Identification and checking of streets and pathways in informal settlements (“favelas”) with pacifying police units
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Adriana, V.; 2Leandro, S.; 3Bruna, P.; 4Isis, M.; 5Andréa, S.; 6Fellipe, F.
1INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: adrianavial.ipp@gmail.com
2INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: leandrogs86@gmail.com
3INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: bpatrocinio@riomaissocial.org
4INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: imartins@riomaissocial.org
5INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: atsilva@riomaissocial.org
6INSTITUTO PEREIRA PASSOS Email: ffigueiredo@riomaissocial.org
Abstract
Considering the current official road and pathways map of Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to note the absence of most of those located within informal urban settlements (“favelas”). Indeed, most pathways along these spaces are not formally recognized and therefore have no official denomination. Only a small portion has been institutionally identified and inserted into official maps, more specifically streets which either start in formal areas of the city and pass through informal settlements or are themselves major pathways arteries. Approximately 20% of Rio’s inhabitants are favela dwellers. Most of these residents do not have a formal address and do not receive mail at their front door. This lack compromises many hindrances related to citizenship and freedom of movement, such as the direct access to specific services and goods, and even to the city, in so far that it hinders certain dimensions of mobility. Among the 1023 registered favelas in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 208 were targeted by the Pacifying Police Unit public programme (UPP). Among these 193 were, as of june 2014, contemplated by the Rio+Social, a Programme implemented by Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Government in cooperation with UN-Habitat to improve the quality of public services and infrastructure in these settlements. Rio+Social is conducted by the Instituto Pereira Passos (IPP), institution responsible for the management of data in Rio de Janeiro`s Municipal Government. The main objective of the project is to update the street network database of the city by mapping the pathways within settlements with UPP. It aims therefore to overcome the lacks of information related to the spatial referencing of street and pathways in Rio de Janeiro’s informal settlements. The update of the database was carried out by improving already existing data and providing new information inputs into the official street network database of the city. Three major data sources were utilized: technical analysis of ortoimages; the superposition of spatial data from other data sources such as governmental research and data management institutions, public programmes and register offices; and mainly, field work realized by Rio+Social staff. The latter was particularly relevant in so far that most field staff are local dwellers, which improved the quality of the data collected due to their local knowledge.
Keywords
Identification of streets ; checking of streets; informal settlements