INCRA Selects Clark Labs IDRISI Andes

INCRA, Brazil's National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform, has purchased a suite of IDRISI Andes GIS and Image Processing software licenses to monitor natural resources, manage federal lands and determine areas which require preservation. The sale was arranged through Clark Labs' distributor in Brazil, SulSoft.

Land reform is a critical issue in Brazil and INCRA is charged with implementing agrarian reform to ensure equitable distribution of land and sustainable agricultural development. INCRA, founded in 1970 and part of the Brazilian Agrarian Development Ministry, redistributes unused lands for the settlement of rural landless families through 30 regional offices. To effect reforms, the organization designates areas known as ‘settlements' to be managed and developed. Within INCRA, the department of the General Coordination of Environment and Natural Resources supervises settlements' use of natural resources and environmental management of each area. In 2006, they settled over 130,000 families.

The broad range of tools found in IDRISI will allow INCRA professionals to use one software package for a variety of tasks. Specifically, the agency will use IDRISI in preparing thematic maps (such as maps of land use, vegetation, water resources and slope), digital terrain modeling, processing satellite imagery, database development, and manipulating raster and vector data.

IDRISI will be used to collect and systematise data on land gathering, aid the implementation of settlement projects and prepare plans to develop new settlements. The software will also be used to measure existing environmental damage in real estate obtained for land reform to determine both liabilities and environmental assets of such real estate. To date, more than 70 INCRA professionals have been trained in the use of IDRISI and Cartalinx for environmental monitoring.