Publications
Digital Twin-Assisted Urban Resilience: A Data-Driven Framework for Sustainable Regeneration in Paranoá, Brasilia
A data-driven framework leveraging Digital Twin Modeling (DTM) demonstrates potential for enhancing urban resilience and sustainable regeneration, particularly in informal settlements of the Global South. The Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM), developed by Politecnico di Milano, provides a systematic approach to transform DTM into an active tool for real-time analysis, scenario simulation, and design optimization. Focusing on Paranoá, Brasilia, this study integrates advanced spatial mapping with key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Green Space Diversity, Ecosystem Service Proximity, and Green Space Continuity to address developmental and environmental challenges. By utilizing a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform on 30 m by 30 m sampling grids, the research offers a systemic and practical approach for multi-dimensional digitalization of urban structure and performance, supporting adaptive and data-based planning processes.
Diet and seed dispersal of bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Brasilia National Park
Bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) play a crucial role as seed dispersers for the endangered Cerrado biome, significantly contributing to its conservation. Research in Brasília National Park revealed that these primates primarily consume fruits, with their diet comprising 33 plant species from 21 families, including 20% anthropic food. Seeds passed through their digestive system and deposited with feces exhibited enhanced germination rates compared to other treatments, highlighting the importance of primate-mediated seed dispersal. Additionally, they disperse medium- and large-sized seeds that smaller frugivores may overlook, underscoring their vital ecological function in maintaining biodiversity within this threatened ecosystem.
Electrochromic Glazing and Evaluation of Visual and Non-Visual Effects of Daylight: Simulation Studies for Brasilia – Brazil
Electrochromic glazing offers a promising solution for balancing circadian lighting and glare reduction, particularly in highly glazed buildings in hot climates. A study simulating conditions in Brasília, Brazil, found that electrochromic glazing achieved a better balance between visual comfort (vertical illuminance ≤ 1,500 lux) and non-visual requirements (melanopic daylight illuminance ≥ 250 lux) for 33.33% of hours facing north, compared to just 9.17% with clear glass. While clear glass performed better in terms of melanopic daylight efficacy ratio, electrochromic glazing provided more stable and comfortable lighting conditions across seasons. The research used Climate Studio and ALFA simulations over a full year and four key days (solstices and equinoxes) to evaluate these effects, highlighting the potential for electrochromic technology to improve visual and non-visual daylight performance in tropical urban environments like Brasília.
Influence of the Exposure Degree on the Degradation of Facades of Buildings in Brasília—Brazil
Facades of buildings in Brasília, Brazil, exhibit significantly shorter estimated service lives (ESL) when exposed to high levels of driving rain and solar radiation. Research indicates that facades with high exposure degrade at a rate leading to an ESL of approximately 26 years, compared to 35 years for those with low exposure. The study employed the Degradation Measurement Method (DMM) and General Degradation Factor (FGD) to quantify degradation, revealing that North-oriented facades are particularly vulnerable due to intense climatic conditions. These findings underscore the critical impact of exposure degree on facade durability, providing actionable insights for architectural design and conservation efforts in similar climates.
Opinion of Residents about the Freight Transport and Its Influence on the Quality of Life: An Analysis for Brasília (Brazil)
Urban freight transport (UFT) significantly impacts residents' quality of life, with negative effects from externalities such as congestion and pollution outweighing the positive influence of urban infrastructure. A study analyzing data from a web-based survey in Brasília, Brazil, found that public and private management have a stronger influence on UFT externalities compared to urban infrastructure. To improve citizens' quality of life, prioritizing road capacity, proper loading and unloading practices, and supervision is recommended. The research used Structural Equation Modelling with Partial Least Squares to assess the relationship between urban infrastructure, UFT externalities, and residents' quality of life.
A Dinâmica Geográfica do Setor Supermercadista em Brasília (DF)
Research reveals Brasília's significance as a global consumption hub, with its supermarket sector demonstrating marked heterogeneity and adaptive commercial strategies. The study identifies the presence of major international retail chains in the city, highlighting how their selective territorial use correlates with socio-spatial inequalities across administrative regions. By analyzing multi-scale performance—including capital origin, location strategies, and establishment profiles—using quantitative and qualitative data from Associação de Supermercados de Brasília (ASBRA), the research underscores the city's role in Brazil's retail landscape outside the southeastern region. This approach sheds light on how supermarket chains tailor their operations to local income patterns, offering insights into urban commercial dynamics in a globalized economy.
Degradação de fachadas revestidas em argamassas nos edifícios de Brasília, Brasil
Research on the degradation of plaster facades in Brasília, Brazil, reveals that cracks are the most severe form of damage, particularly affecting the top zones and continuous wall sections. Facades oriented towards the north and south experience the highest levels of degradation. The study analyzed 90 facade samples from buildings aged between 20 and 60 years using the Degradation Measurement Method, focusing on indicators such as solar orientation and facade zones. These findings provide valuable insights for estimating building lifespan and developing more durable materials.
Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap Water: A Pre-Screening in Brasilia, Brazil
A concerning prevalence of microplastics (MPs) was detected in 100% of tap water samples collected from residential and commercial areas in Brasília, Brazil. The study, conducted between 2020 and 2021, analyzed 32 samples using fluorescence microscopy, revealing an average of 97 ± 55 particles per 500 mL in the South Wing area and 219 ± 158 particles per 500 mL in the North Wing area. MPs ranged from 6 to 50 microns in size, highlighting a significant contamination level that raises public health concerns, particularly as tap water is not the sole source of MP exposure for humans.
Urban seismic monitoring in Brasília, Brazil
A novel analysis of seismic data from Brasília, Brazil, reveals that cultural noise—typically observed in high-frequency bands—can also manifest in low-frequency bands when high-frequency signals are attenuated. This discovery expands the understanding of urban seismology by demonstrating its potential for monitoring societal activities and events, such as sporting events, political protests, and periods of seismic silence like the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine or a nationwide trucker strike. The study utilized seismic records from a local station to track noise patterns during these episodes, highlighting the utility of ambient noise monitoring in connecting seismology with urban dynamics.
‘Brasilia Is Blood on a Tennis Court’
Literature can serve as a powerful tool for architectural criticism, offering deeper insights into the built environment's sensory and affective dimensions. This study introduces Julia Kristeva's 'semiotic' framework to challenge traditional phenomenological approaches, using Clarice Lispector's experimental writing on Brasília as a case study. By focusing on metaphor, it demonstrates how literary language can disrupt fixed interpretations, bridging gaps between perception, affection, and architectural experience. The research highlights the potential of literature to critically rethink the relationship between the body and architectural structures, providing an innovative lens for spatial analysis.
Inclusão e exclusão em Brasília
A long-standing research group's work on Brasília reveals the city as a unique urban landscape characterized by fragmentation, low densities, territorial dispersion, and stark socio-spatial stratification. These attributes, deeply influenced by its history and the researchers' disciplinary backgrounds, highlight how Brasília's peculiarities shape its urban morphology. The study underscores the importance of contextual factors in urban studies, offering insights into the complex dynamics of inclusion and exclusion within this planned capital city.
Social vulnerabilities of female waste pickers in Brasília, Brazil
Female waste pickers in Brasília, Brazil, face significant social vulnerabilities that exacerbate their exposure to health risks. A study of 1,025 waste pickers at Estrutural’s dumpsite revealed that 67% were women, most of whom lived without partners (73.7%), had three to four children (47.8%), and earned lower monthly incomes (62.6%). These findings highlight the disproportionate burden faced by female waste pickers, who are more likely to experience adverse health effects due to occupational hazards while also managing greater family responsibilities. The research employed a quantitative cross-sectional epidemiological approach with semi-structured data to identify gender disparities in this vulnerable population. Such insights underscore the need for targeted interventions to address both occupational and social challenges affecting female waste pickers globally.
Two childhoods, two neighborhoods, and one city: utopias and dystopias in Brasilia
Children's experiences in Brasilia's neighborhoods reveal that perceptions of utopia and dystopia are not binary but amalgamated, shaped by personal meanings and relationships with place. The study used urban sensory ethnography, combining narrated walks, georeferenced filming, and analyses of two children's narratives in contrasting neighborhoods—the model superblock and Vila do Boa—to explore these dynamics. Findings challenge the oppositional framework of Brasilia’s Pilot Plan, showing that children integrate utopian and dystopian elements fluidly, reflecting their lived realities.
Tracing and tracking wastewater-derived substances in freshwater lakes and reservoirs: Anthropogenic gadolinium and geogenic REEs in Lake Paranoá, Brasilia
A significant increase in anthropogenic gadolinium (Gd) in Lake Paranoá, Brasilia, between 2012 and 2013, was detected, serving as a tracer for wastewater-derived substances such as pharmaceuticals. This finding highlights the potential of rare earth element (REE) geochemistry as an inexpensive method to monitor water quality, particularly for reservoirs like Lake Paranoá, which may serve as future drinking water sources. The study analyzed total and dissolved REE and uranium concentrations during dry and wet seasons, revealing distinct M-type lanthanide tetrad effects and large positive Gd anomalies, with the latter likely originating from wastewater treatment plant effluents due to the use of Gd-based contrast agents in medical imaging. Additional inputs, such as aeolian or fluvial sources, may contribute to the observed Ce anomaly.
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