Resumen

RAMIREZ GRANADOS, Pablo Ignacio  y  RODRIGUEZ SOTO, Luis Francisco. Application of the Environmental Fragility Index (EFI) in the Integrated Terrain Geoaptitude (GEOINT) as a Tool for Environmental Land-Use Planning in Rural Areas of the Atenas Canton, Costa Rica. Rev. Geog. Amer. Central [online]. 2026, n.77, pp.277-314.  Epub 19-Mayo-2026. ISSN 2215-2563.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15359/rgac.77-2.10.

This study presents the application of the Environmental Fragility Index for the geoaptitude variable in rural areas of the Atenas canton, province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. Cabinet information was collected and primary information was processed, as well as local studies that allowed categorizing the geological and geomorphological maps and establishing values to calculate geoaptitude. Hydrogeological information, slope stability and natural hazards were integrated into the geological and geomorphological maps using map algebra in a geographic information system (GIS) for zoning and the creation of categorized areas of environmental fragility. The methodology applied through GIS produced five maps categorized according to lithopetrophysical factors, external geodynamics, slope stability, hydrogeology and natural hazards. Each of these maps shows the relationship of the geoaptitude characteristics with their geographic location and their percentage weight. The five sub-factors were analyzed in relation to current land uses, and through an arithmetic process were integrated to form the integrated geoaptitude. The environmental fragility index based on geoaptitude allowed the zoning of the territory, identifying areas with technical limitations and areas with potential for different degrees of current and future occupation.

Palabras clave : Environmental Fragility; Geoaptitude; Geographic Information System; Environmental Variable.

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