This study proposes an innovative and demonstrably necessary vessel intended for the research and logistic support of scientific or non-scientific activities in the Amazon, designed in accordance with the environmental and geographical requirements and characteristics of the region (possibly applicable to other similar hydrographic basins). The study also demonstrates the existence of a demand (actual and potential) for the infrastructure proposed. This infrastructure could subsidize the efforts devoted to the expansion of knowledge about the region, since many areas of science, institutions and business segments could benefit from its implementation. The access to knowledge could attract private investments with the perspective of developing business whose origin has been a rational and sustainable exploitation of the natural potential of the region.

A fusão de imagens multisensor tem sido um procedimento amplamente utilizado em função da natureza complementar dos vários conjuntos de dados. Este artigo compara o desempenho de quatro métodos diferentes para fusão de imagens Landsat-7 ETM+ e RADARSAT-1 W1. A comparação foi baseada nas características espectrais das imagens, utilizando-se de análise estatística e visual dos produtos gerados. Quatro métodos foram usados para a fusão das imagens Landsat-7 ETM+ e RADARSAT-1 W1: i) fusão do SAR (radar de abertura sintética) com a tríade selecionada pelo OIF (Optimum Index Factor ); ii) realce por decorrelação da tríade selecionada pelo OIF, seguida da fusão com SAR; iii) ACP (Análise por Componentes Principais) para as seis bandas ETM+ do espectro refletido (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 e 7) e posterior fusão das três primeiras componentes principais (1CP; 2CP; 3CP) com o SAR; iv) SPC-SAR (Principal Componente Seletivo - SAR). O produto SPC-SAR mostrou melhor desempenho na identificação das feições costeiras e permitiu o realce mais efetivo dos diferentes ambientes.

Multisensor data fusion has been widely used in response to complementary nature of many data sets. This paper compares the results of four different data fusion methods used to merge Landsat-7 ETM+ and RADARSAT-1 Wide 1 data. The comparison was based on spectral characteristics of images using statistical and visual analyses of generated products. Four methods were used in the Landsat-7 ETM+ and RADARSAT-1 W1 data fusion: i) The best three bands combination(Landsat-7) based OIF (Optimum Index Factor) selection were merged with RADARSAT-1 data; ii) Decorrelation stretch was applied in the three bands (Landsat-7) selected by OIF and merged with RADARSAT-1 image; iii) PCA (Principal Component Analysis) to six reflective ETM+ bands (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7) and posterior fusion of the three first Principal Components (PC1, PC2, PC3) with SAR; iv) A new approach SPC-SAR (Selective Principal Component - Synthetic Aperture Radar). The SPC-SAR product presented the best performance in the identification of coastal features and allowed the most effective enhancement of the different environments.

A importância do monitoramento ambiental é medida pelos vários casos de derramamentos de óleo ocorridos no mundo durante as últimas três décadas. Isto tem incentivado as empresas e órgãos do governo envolvidos na prevenção e combate a estes acidentes a aperfeiçoarem cada vez mais os métodos, tanto preventivos como corretivos, para a minimização dos danos gerados por acidentes com derramamento de óleo. Este trabalho objetiva contextualizar de forma histórica como os acidentes com derramamento de óleo propiciaram o desenvolvimento de pesquisa tecnológica a partir de parcerias entre empresas de petróleo, agências de governo, universidades e institutos de pesquisa no Brasil, em especial na zona costeira Amazônica. Como resultado, índices de sensibilidade ambiental ao derramamento de óleo (ISA) foram definidos especialmente para a Amazônia costeira, onde processos fluviais e marinhos se encontram na foz do maior rio do mundo, o rio Amazonas. Perspectivas de pesquisa e respostas de emergência a acidentes são apresentadas, a fim de se conservar a diversidade socioambiental da mais importante região tropical do planeta.

The importance of environmental monitoring is clear from the many oil spills that have occurred over the past three decades. This has encouraged both companies and the public sector involved in the prevention and response to these accidents to develop efficient procedures to minimize the damage caused by accidents involving oil spill. This study reviews the history of oil spill accidents in Brazil and examines how these events have contributed to the development of technological research through partnerships involving oil companies, government, universities and research institutes, with the emphasis on the Amazon coastal zone. As a result, environmental sensitivity indexes (ESIs) for oil spill have been developed specifically for the Amazon coast, where fluvial and marine processes take place in the estuary of the world's largest river system. Perspectives on research and emergency response procedures are presented, with the primary objective of conserving the social-environmental diversity of the planet's most important tropical region.