Smart cities: uso de sensores e dados secundários para cidades inteligentes centradas no cidadão

Abstract

The future of cities is an increasing concern, especially considering the estimate that by 2050, 66% of the global population will live in urban areas, exacerbating the externalities of the Anthropocene. Cities are already facing the adverse effects of global warming in the environmental context and in areas related to health, energy, mobility, economy, and security, among others. In this context, the global standard ISO 37122:2019 – Smart and Sustainable Cities – provides indicators and metrics for cities to achieve the status of smart cities. This thesis adopts technology as an essential enabling component for the development of solutions that empower society with qualified information, promote socioeconomic and environmental development, stimulate innovation, and support actions aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens. The objective of this thesis was to develop and evaluate a functional prototype of a dynamic IoT (Internet of Things) device for real-time georeferenced environmental data collection and a digital platform for integrating environmental data and secondary databases to understand urban dynamics in Caxias do Sul, RS, aimed at supporting the formulation of citizen-centered smart cities policies. Unlike a technological orientation, the concept of citizen-centered smart cities places the human element as the protagonist, giving meaning to technological initiatives. To achieve this objective, two artifacts were developed: a IoT device intended to collect data on brightness, noise, temperature, humidity, and air quality through sensors, and a platform that integrated data from the sensors with other secondary databases and information regarding citizen satisfaction with life, which enabled the enrichment and fostering of understanding about the urban environment in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. The research method adopted was Design Science Research (DSR), which followed a protocol of iterative cycles from problem identification to the communication of results. The contributions of the developed artifacts demonstrate how the application of emerging technologies can enhance the technical and scientific analyses of the process of formulating citizen-centered smart city policies. The formulation of the thesis also contributed to the advancement of the concept of citizen-centered smart cities and to the theoretical reflections on the use of technology as a means in the urban development process. [resumo publicado pelo autor]