The Brazilian city is one of the South American leaders in urban transformation projects
Rio de Janeiro will be the guest city at Smart City Expo World Congress 2013
The third edition of Smart City Expo World Congress, which will be held from November 19th to 21st 2013 in Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via Exhibition Centre, has chosen Rio de Janeiro as guest city. This will allow visitors to discover the Brazilian city’s smart initiatives at its stand, situated in the centre of the show, and also in the congress programme, where it will be highlighted.
The days of the image of Rio de Janeiro as a city with a disorganised urban growth are numbered. The local government has invested in a change in model and a radical transformation that has led to the deployment of a multitude of projects to turn the city into a benchmark in the use of smart solutions. For this reason, the city has been chosen as guest city at the 2013 edition.
The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, said “we are implementing smart initiatives to improve our citizens’ quality of life. Therefore, to be part of this event is a source of pride and a huge recognition of our efforts to turn Rio into a more modern and sustainable city“.
Paes also said “in three years time, Rio will host the Olympic Games, just two years after Brazil hosts the World Cup. These mega events are boosting the transformation that our citizens have demanded for a long time. It is not only about improving our infrastructure, but also about benefiting our city with technology that can improve people’s lives. It is very special for us to have the chance to present some of our projects in Barcelona, a city that has transformed itself by using the Olympic Games and that is also a great example and benchmark for me“.
Strategic Plan up to 2030
The latest aim of the transformations undertaken by Rio de Janeiro is to make it the best city in the Southern Hemisphere in which to live, work and visit by 2030. In order to do so, the municipal government has deployed a strategic plan for initiatives in areas such as health, education, urban planning, mobility, administration and finances.
One of the many new projects already underway is Rio’s Operations Centre (COR) from where the local government permanently monitors what is happening in the city. The centre coordinates 30 municipal agencies and service supply companies, controls the working of public services on a daily basis and delivers a fast and effective reaction to prevent or control emergency situations.
Another initiative in this strategic plan is the 1746 Hotline, the direct channel between the City Hall and the citizens. It allows them to request public services, submit a complaint, and make suggestions through a phone number, website or app for tablets and smartphones. Since its creation in 2011, 1746 has already received over 7.5 million calls and more than 70% of the issues were solved.
Other projects underway are the urban regeneration and revitalisation of the 5-million m2 Porto Maravilha, the city’s port area, turning the region in a multimodal mobility hub, and the MaréAnas initiative supported by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, which develops an integrated transport system to improve mobility for the inhabitants of the Maré district, which has a high concentration of favelas (slums).
Barcelona, 30th October 2013