This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of land use at Botucatu Municipality, during three years, considering six vegetative covers (sugar cane, reforestation, native forest, pasture, citrus orchard and others). As data source, a Landsat TM image, bands 3; 4 and 5, orbit 220, point 76, quadrant A, from June 8, 1999 was used. The Geographic Information System (GIS) used to analyze the images was IDRISI for Windows 3.2, and the software was very efficient for identificating and mapping the vegetative cover. The Landsat 5 image was an excellent database for digital classification. The Municipality is not being preserved environmentally, because less than 20% of its area is covered with native forests, the minimum demanded by law. The pasture for cattle-raising is the predominant land use in the studied area.
satellite image; geoprocessing; remote sensing
