Advisor: Fernando Betim
Dissertation: Participatory mapping of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas: from cartographic empty to integration of spectacle
Defense date: 06/04/2016
Abstract
Based on an empirical perception of the growing demand for mapping the favelas of
Rio de Janeiro, the present work launches an investigation about the when, how and why
there have been such advancements on the representation of these areas. To respond to
when, we revisited the history of Rio’s favelas – and, consequently, the gradual
achievement of social rights acquired by its residents – opposing this background to its
representation in historical maps. At this point, we highlight two aspects: the exponential
increase of the number of favelas’ mapping projects, especially of the ones where there are
Police Pacification Units (UPP), due to the city’s preparation for the mega events (World
Cup and Olympics); and the recurrent use of the participatory mapping concept in most of
the projects that make use of local residents’ expertise. Based on this reflection, we have
developed a particular method to analyse the projects, through which it was possible to
conclude that, despite the fact that most of the projects sell themselves as ‘participatory’,
there are some rare cases in which the population is actually invited to think critically about
the mapping actions and the development of the method, or even about the implications of
these actions, the records of the local memory etc. Therefore, after close monitoring of two
great agents’ projects (Google and City Hall of Rio de Janeiro), one can conclude that their
core is not based on the content of the projects themselves, nor on the life improvement of
the favelas’ population, but on the promotion and the spectacle of performing such actions.