Application of NBR 15505-2:2019 for the Analysis of the Stretches of the Boi River Trail, in the Aparados da Serra National Park, Southern Brazil

Abstract

The Boi River trail, located in Aparados da Serra National Park, is popularly known as a trail of high difficulty degree. However, there are no studies with a standardized or normative classification referring to this kind of analysis. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to classify the course of the Boi River trail with the Brazilian Normative 15505-2:2019. To develop this classification, the Trail was carried out in order to map it, the trail was divided it into 27 stretches, which were classified with values/classes from 1 to 5 based on four criteria (environment severity, course orientation, land conditions, and degree of physical effort). The obtained results show that the Boi River trail is classified as: quite severe (Class 4); requiring the identification of geographical accidents and cardinal points (Class 3); the course is composed by stepped trails or irregular terrain (Class 3); and the effort is significant (Class 3). The classification can be preliminary, however, it can contribute both to supply the shortage of materials that classify the trail according to standardized criteria and to carry out safer tourist activities in the region.