Big Data for Sustainable Urban Development is a project developed by Fundação Getulio Vargas, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and supported by Waze. It creates a unique opportunity to develop a pilot model for big data governance in collaboration with four cities and one district in Latin America: São Paulo (Brazil), Montevideo (Uruguay), Quito (Ecuador), Xalapa (Mexico), and Miraflores (Peru), respectively.

The main goal of the project is to develop pilot models of big data governance and utilization that are replicable and scalable in cities such as São Paulo (Brazil), Miraflores (Peru), Montevideo (Uruguay), Quito (Ecuador), and Xalapa (Mexico). The idea is to create solutions that transform data into actionable information, facilitating the design of smart and sustainable urban policies.

By leveraging big data analytics capabilities, cities can gain a deeper understanding of phenomena such as mobility, resource use, and air quality, among others. This evidence-based knowledge can be used for more efficient decision-making, contributing to improving citizens’ quality of life and fostering the economic and social development of the participating cities.

The project included design thinking exercises and videoconferences with representatives from the participating cities to identify challenges and explore opportunities for innovation in urban management. In addition, open data were mapped, regulatory models analyzed, and recommendations made for data publication and the creation of public value. The result included the development of a platform for standardized data storage.

Through these stages, application prototypes were developed to address key issues such as transparency in public actions, air pollution estimation, support for public transportation, and real-time identification of accidents. These technological solutions aim to strengthen governance, quality of life, and sustainable development in the participating cities.

At FGV Cities, we are committed to driving scientific and technological advances that promote more sustainable urban public policies. Through partnerships between academia, businesses, and government agencies, we seek to create a positive impact on building smart, inclusive, and environmentally responsible cities.

FGV São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP)

FGV Cities

Researcher: Ciro Biderman

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