PROPOSAL FOR AN EMBRYONIC MODEL TO PROMOTE SMART CITIES, IMPLEMENTED IN A BOTTOM-UP FORMAT, APPLIED TO THE AMAZON REGION

Abstract

Environmental changes, many of which result from human negligence, have driven managers to adopt sustainable practices that adhere to the concept of Smart Cities, a concept that is becoming popular among administrators of Brazilian metropolises. This movement has been corroborated by ABNT standards and the federal government. However, in less developed regions such as Northern Brazil, where challenges are greater and resources are limited, traditional top-down urban development strategies such as BRTs have proven inefficient as initial solutions. This article investigates the feasibility of implementing projects for Smart Cities in the Amazon region given the scarcity of resources. It proposes an alternative bottom-up model titled Smart Launch, which is shown to be more viable for sustainable development in regions with these characteristics. The model recommends starting with smaller and more manageable projects that can be easily implemented without extensive bureaucracy or significant investments. Once established, the model can be quickly replicated and adapted in other locations. The case of the UsiPaz (Peace Plants) in Pará exemplifies the success of this approach and has been taken as a case study, showing significant reduction in violence rates and an increase in the sense of community belonging, as evidenced by qualitative research through semi-structured interviews with managers from three plants in different neighborhoods of the metropolitan region of Belém.