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

the case of the UsiPaz in Belém-Pará-Brazil

Resumo

Environmental changes, many of which result from human negligence, have driven managers to adopt sustainable practices aligned with the concept of Smart Cities, a concept that is gaining popularity among administrators of Brazilian metropolises as a public policy. This movement has beencorroborated by ABNT standards and the federal government. However, in less developed regions, such as Northern Brazil, where challenges are greater and resources more limited, traditional top-down urban development strategies, such as Bus Rapid Transit systems (BRTs), prove to be inefficient as initial solutions. This article aims to provide contributions related to a feasible alternative for the development of Smart Cities in the Amazon, proposing an empowering model, in a bottom-up format, titled Smart Launch, stemming from a conceptual redefinition of Smart Places. The model recommends initially adopting smaller, more manageable projects that can be easily implemented without extensive bureaucracy or substantial investments. The Peace Plants (UsiPaz) inPará exemplify the success of this approach and were taken as a case study. Methodologically, a qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with managers of three Usipaz in different neighborhoods of the Belém metropolitan area. As a result, a strong majority of this group (88.8%) would recommend replicating the project model in other regions of the Amazon. It is concluded, therefore, that this is a proposal truly appropriate and viable for improving the quality of life of citizens, creating opportunities in accordance with the premises of Smart Cities.