Helena Degreas* 04/05/2024 07h00 Jovem Pan News
The use of technologies such as IoT, Big Data, AI, GIS, and blockchain is fundamental for urban public policy planning, promoting safer cities, and improving quality of life.
The use of technologies such as IoT, Big Data, AI, GIS, and blockchain is crucial for urban public policy planning, promoting safer cities, and improving quality of life. Certainly, you must have come across cameras distributed across buildings, roads, poles, traffic lights, and patrol vehicles seamlessly blending into the urban landscape. These devices attentively observe us, capturing every step, gesture, expression, attitude, and behavior in search of patterns and information that can be utilized by those who installed them. Unlike the screens of a smartphone where we post what we want, our public life is scrutinized by silent witnesses who, keenly, observe our interactions with the city. Walking through the city has turned our lives into an open stage, whether or not we are aware of it. Despite discussions about the loss of control over our image and how it is used by companies and sectors of public administration that capture images, the fact is that currently, data generated daily on the internet exceeds 2.5 quintillion bytes produced by billions of users daily, numbers that point to significant growth in their production in any format.
“The real-time city is real!” With this phrase, the Senseable City Lab (MIT) has been working on contemporary urban management using the abundance of available images (Google Street View is one of the platforms used) to understand the different aspects of the city. Making sense of these sets of images that are then transformed into visual data can help us measure the legibility of space, quantify different aspects of urban life, and consequently design responsive environments. Cities are complex organisms that require approaches and the use of networks and digital information across their territory to understand the dynamics and interactions of the built environment. The Senseable City Lab (MIT) anticipates and studies urban changes through an omni-disciplinary approach, combining insights, methodologies, and techniques from various areas that integrate knowledge and skills from designers, urban planners, engineers, social scientists, biologists, physicists, and other disciplines involving diverse sectors and communities aimed at deepening mutual understanding between cities and inhabitants.
These technologies, when combined with sensor installation, allow for anticipating changes by capturing real-time information, providing a comprehensive and updated view of the situations that occur on city streets. By collecting real-time data on traffic, pedestrian and cyclist movement, environmental conditions related to noise production, thermal sensation, wind speed, and direction, urban maintenance (cleaning of public roads, repairs to sidewalks and squares, tree pruning, maintenance of public lighting, removal of debris, and inspection of green areas), for example, they can identify emerging trends, detect problems quickly, and inform urban planning decisions and public policies proactively. In Brazil, some capitals and cities have been standing out in the use of technologies for information management and assisting in the planning of public policies focused on surveillance and security, including IoT for real-time data collection, Big Data and Analytics to process information, AI to generate insights and extract meaningful insights from data, providing a complete understanding of problems, GIS for spatial data analysis, blockchain for security and transparency, and interconnected platforms promoting data sharing. When integrated, these technologies empower authorities to plan and implement effective policies tailored to the needs of urban communities.
Recently, the Municipality of São Caetano do Sul launched the São Caetano Mais Segura Program, investing over R$ 70 million in 2023. The program aims to deploy an urban infrastructure to support the over 400 already installed 360-degree cameras and the planned expansion of 1,335 that will cover the entire city. Additionally, it includes the installation of the Emergency Management Center (CGE), responsible for monitoring and managing urban emergency situations, using 360-degree cameras and sensors. Furthermore, integration of security forces with technology was carried out and personnel increased, through an agreement with the State government and the integration of GCM vehicle cameras with the Muralha Paulista and Córtex systems. These systems allow for the immediate identification of vehicles registered with CGE as stolen, as soon as they enter the city. A pop-up alerts both CGE and GCM vehicles about the irregularity, increasing efficiency in capturing criminals and ensuring daily security.
For those unfamiliar with the technology needed to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the security system, 360-degree cameras require the deployment of a robust network of optical cables to transmit real-time data with high speed and image quality, and the guarantee of stable energy systems for continuous operation. Effective control and monitoring require sophisticated management software, allowing real-time analysis and event detection. In addition to the installation of support infrastructures, such as poles and towers, that will allow for the strategic positioning of the cameras. Furthermore, cybersecurity measures to protect cameras and data against unauthorized access and attacks were taken for the program’s effectiveness. Data released by the São Paulo State Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) between March 2023 and 2024 show a decrease in various categories of crimes: reduction in cases of vehicle theft (45%), vehicle theft (37.50%), cargo theft (100%). These statistics are reinforced by quarterly comparisons, which also show a decrease in all major crime indices.
The use of technologies such as IoT, Big Data, AI, GIS, and blockchain is fundamental for urban public policy planning. These tools enable real-time data collection and analysis, making cities more responsive to citizens’ needs. However, their effectiveness depends not only on technological infrastructure but also on political commitment and the training of public agents for changing work culture. By integrating these technologies, authorities can create place-specific policies, promoting a more responsive city capable of meeting the demands of the population and improving their quality of life.
Do you have any questions or want to suggest a topic? Write to me on Twitter or Instagram: @helenadegreas.
*This column was written in partnership with geographer Luís Fernando Borsoi, an expert in spatial analysis and geoprocessing, environmental and urban planning for smart cities.
The English version employed features from ChatGPT and Gemini.