ABSTRACT
The first millennium decade had a “smart cities gold rush” fuelled by rapid technological innovation, a growing interest in urban problems, and the desire to attract private investments. The process of “smartization” proposes to implement urban models that overcome the challenges imposed by accelerated urbanization, promoting tools that will help devise sustainable urban planning and management for the more efficient use of public resources. Although there is no univocal definition, the idea of “smartness” is linked to the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in urban management and planning. However, there are growing concerns that a preoccupation with technology obscures concepts of urban inequalities and democracy.
The main objective of the chapter is to critically analyze the process of smartization in the city of Rio de Janeiro and how it deals with local inequalities. The main assumption is that applying technology does not automatically make the city more efficient and sustainable. For that, it is necessary to integrate multiple institutional arrangements and develop an integrated vision of territories in order to overcome any technocratic vision and promote a more holistic approach. The basic message here is “be careful what you measure.” A holistic approach to measurement and indicators is more likely to move cities towards sustainability rather than a technocratic approach that neglects the interdependence of societal factors. Focused approaches on smart technologies may place a Band-Aid solution on urban planning and management that is not likely to have a significant long-term impact on resilience.
