Quando a informação transforma?: o potencial da informação urbanística no confronto às práticas excludentes de planejamento urbano na ZEIS Pici

Abstract

The production of urban space has historically been characterized by the systematic exclusion of vulnerable social groups. This pattern is evident not only in the physical layout of urban areas but also in the generation of urban planning data. In today's Information Age, the advent of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) presents the potential to reshape urban dynamics while also highlighting the persistence of existing power structures. This study explores the production and organization of urban planning data concerning slums and urban communities as a political endeavor enabled by technological means, with the capacity to challenge and confront exclusionary practices and narratives in urban planning.The research aims to contribute to critical inquiries into urban planning and technology as arenas of contention, where issues of power, information, and knowledge are examined against the backdrop of technological advancements. Focusing on the empirical case of land regularization processes in the Special Zone of Social Interest (ZEIS) of Pici, located in Fortaleza, Ceará, the research employs methodological procedures such as literature review, document analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews.The findings suggest that through various processes of collective formation and engagement, the community leveraged the data generated during land regularization efforts to advocate for changes, challenging prevailing narratives and exclusionary urban planning practices. The experience of ZEIS Pici demonstrates how adapting methodologies to incorporate analog approaches can amplify the involvement of traditionally marginalized groups, indicating that digital inclusion requires a critical approach tailored to local contexts. The community’s appropriation of information underscores their capacity to challenge stereotypical perceptions of their communities while recognizing their challenges and potential. This experience provides insights into balancing digital technologies with analog methodologies, suggesting that equitable cities can be advanced through active community engagement in spatial management.