Analysis of sustainability in the slum upgrading process: the stormwater subsystem and the accessibility, mobility and transport Mateus H. Andrade student Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (EP-USP) Brazil
[email protected] Architect Patricia Aulicino, EP-USP, Brazil,
[email protected] Professor Alex Kenya Abiko, EP-USP, Brazil,
[email protected] Summary The process of rapid urbanization in developing countries has produced divided cities where the formal and informal live side by side. Informal settlements have become complex forms, where the social and environmental problems are major challenges for the government and the population for decades, in order to find ways to include them in the urban environment of the formal city, and to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants and minimize environmental impacts caused by the land occupation without infrastructure. In relation to urban systems, accessibility, mobility and transport system and the storm water drainage subsystem directly impact on the environment and quality of life of residents, especially in environmental preservation areas. However, as slums are very specific and complex systems, the slum upgrading project should be aware of the location characteristics, observing certain principles related to minimum conditions for the implantation of urban systems. Based on cases of slum upgrading in environmental protected areas, this paper aims to analyze the solutions encountered at implementing the urban infrastructure of drainage and road system in slums, examining the techniques employed and finding innovative solutions implemented by the interaction between the technicians with the local community. The results show the benefits that the urban upgrading process of informal settlements can provide to the environment and to the slum dwellers, if properly planned and performed.