IBGE releases today the second edition of the Technical Manual of Geomorphology. The Manual, used by the Institute as a reference to map Brazilian relief, presents information and concepts which guide work in all Major Regions of Brazil. The new version is an update of the first edition - released in 1995 - and encompasses the evolution of relief mapping, especially in the field of image interpretation in digital media, geoprocessing and Geographic Information Systems integrated to a Database. The Manual also highlights parameters and variables which help evaluate if a certain area of land is adequate for construction and human occupation.

The Manual makes available a unique and previously unseen methodology, developed by a group of geographers and geologists who are working in the several IBGE State Units. With the inclusion of new remote sensing and geoprocessing technologies, besides satellite images, the Manual now includes advances in methodology, and describes techniques and definitions which lead to the comprehensive mapping of Brazilian relief. The publication is illustrated with 101 remote sensing images, 89 land pictures and 56 illustrative drawings. 

The methodologies presented in the manual apply to studies on Natural Resources, Physical Geography and Environment. The procedures and concepts for mapping can be used by students, professors and researchers from all major Regions and even from foreign countries.

Another objective of the Manual is to establish rules for the production and storage of such information in a database, in order to fulfill specific technical needs requirements by the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (Inde).

Technical Manuals of Geosciences have been released since 1991, with the objective of unifying and defining criteria for works performed by IBGE, at national level, contributing to make available extra-institutional methodologies and patterns.

Images and landscapes – The Manual is also a reference for the elaboration of Brazilian relief maps at lower scales, such as wall maps and the National and School Atlas, produced by IBGE. The Technical Manual shows the methodology used to evaluate the contribution of relief in erosive processes, and constitutes a relevant element in the study of environmental impacts.

Field work methods and techniques are also presented through records containing landscape description and collection of material for laboratory analysis. The information in these records has been used to create 500 landscape descriptions, supported by more than 1000 photographs which form the Geomorphology Database and a photo gallery. This group of information is also available on the CD-ROM which comes enclosed with the publication and on the IBGE website.

The new Technical Manual of Geomorphology can be purchased at IBGE book stores and on the Institute web site (https://www.ibge.gov.br/lojavirtual). For further information and interviews, contact the Communications Department at (21) 2142-4651/ 0985/ 0986/ 0882/ 0890/ 0919 or by e-mail the e-mail comunicacao@ibge.gov.br .