TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF MARIANA PIMENTEL (RS) AND ITS NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

This study analyzes the municipal boundaries of Mariana Pimentel, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, aiming to verify the conformity between the existing territorial base and the current legislation, especially State Law No. 9.611/1992. The research was motivated by a request from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for a cartographic and legal review of municipal boundaries. Methodologically, a systemic approach was adopted, combining documentary research, historical cartographic analysis, geoprocessing, and fieldwork carried out in 2025, including interviews with residents and the collection of georeferenced points. The results showed that most boundaries could be validated based on identifiable natural and human-made elements, such as streams, roads, and colonial crossways. However, inconsistencies were found in specific sections, especially on the borders with Barra do Ribeiro and Sertão Santana, resulting from documentary divergences, locational uncertainties, and the absence of an explicit geodetic reference system in the legislation. These situations led to the classification of segments as open boundaries, requiring normative revision and cartographic updating. It is concluded that compatibility between legal norms, spatial representation, and social recognition of the territory is essential for administrative security and the proper provision of public services, recommending the adoption of legal instruments for correcting municipal boundaries.