Cities and Digital Transformation

By Sylvio Mode, President of Autodesk Brazil

 
The latest sporting events that put Brazil, and especially Rio de Janeiro, on the global radar were a very important impetus for the country's capitals to start investing in resources that would elevate them (even if in small proportions) to smart cities ( or Smart Cities). Initiatives in the area of security, energy, mobility, cleaning were an important showcase for tourists who came to the World Cup and the Olympics about two years ago. Regardless of the legacy (or not legacy, in this case), 2016 was a remarkable year for Smart Cities to definitively enter the agenda of the government and companies linked to innovation in Brazil.
 
And since then, what have we been doing again? Some cities are indeed investing in smarter solutions. In a recent article, Valor Econômico pointed to Energisa's initiative in Cataguazes, a city in the south of Minas Gerais, scheduled to be implemented by September. The city should have smart meters and lighting, distributed micro generation of solar energy, innovations in urban mobility, among other initiatives. The application of technology to energy, for example, will allow for increasingly sustainable solutions.
 
In the world, we have concrete results of technological advancement and the need for reflection on sustainable resources in urban spaces. Especially because, in the current scenario, it is estimated that by 2050, about 66% of the world population will live in large cities - which is almost double what exists today. In Brazil, with more than 80% of concentration in urban centers, this reality imposes itself and reinforces the importance of initiatives aimed at sustainable and intelligent growth.
 
If we think about the challenge of minimizing environmental impacts and promoting a quality urban environment for future generations, we need to accelerate the step and bet on models that reinforce concepts capable of making the world more equal in opportunities, with the adoption of business models that foster the creative economy, shared and that generate positive impact and social opportunities.
 
In this context, the development of 'smart and connected' cities becomes a fact if the technology used in the available services (be it transport / mobility, waste collection, public security, water, energy) exists in an integrated way. Connected cities contribute to economic growth, as they collaborate with society and make public management more efficient.

Autodesk is a company focused on innovation, and its technology allows the design and creation of projects that bring intelligent solutions in several areas. An important example of this, aimed at the architecture and construction market, are BIM (Building Information Model) solutions. In a nutshell, BIM is a set of tools that increases the productivity, efficiency and transparency of building, urbanization and infrastructure projects. 
 
What is the gain that BIM brings to urban planning? The proposal is to visualize a virtual city (or project), so that it is possible to develop efficient, environmentally correct and more economical projects, with data updated daily, thus offering reliability and verifiable results, in addition to being able to effectively communicate solutions for any audience.
 
Integration, connection, efficiency - from now on, this is how we have to see any project with an urban impact. Only then will we have our smartest cities.

Disclaimer: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies.