Articulating the Broken City and Society

Jorge Mario Jáuregui of Metrópolis Projetos Urbanos (MPU) has been responsible for more than 20 projects for the Favela-Barrio (slum-to-neighbourhood) Programme implemented by the Rio de Janeiro city government, and two large-scale urban redevelopment projects for President Lula's PAC (Growth Acceleration Programme). Here Jáuregui describes the strategies behind his work and specifically the transformation of public space that was undertaken at the Complexo de Manguinhos in northern Rio as part of the PAC scheme. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE IMPACT OF EARLY DIAGENESIS ON THE RESERVOIR QUALITY OF PRE‐SALT (APTIAN) SANDSTONES IN THE ESPÍRITO SANTO BASIN,EASTERN BRAZIL

Fluvial and estuarine sandstones of the Aptian Mucuri Member of the Mariricu Formation are the main reservoir rocks in the onshore portion of the Espírito Santo Basin, Brazilian eastern margin. These sandstones are contemporaneous with the major lacustrine pre‐salt reservoir rocks which are currently the target of exploration offshore. The sandstones are texturally and compositionally immature, rich in feldspars, biotite, garnets and other heavy minerals, and are interpreted to have been derived from the erosion of igneous and medium‐high grade metamorphic‐plutonic terrains under dry climatic conditions. Early diagenetic processes have significantly impacted the reservoir qualities of the sandstones. Detrital feldspars were dissolved and replaced by kaolinite. Biotite was replaced and expanded by pyrite, calcite, kaolinite and/or smectite. The growth of authigenic rims and coatings of smectitic clays was the most important diagenetic process in most of the sandstones, except for those cemented by abundant poikilotopic calcite. Coarse‐crystalline pyrite replaced primary constituents, particularly biotite and mudstone intraclasts, and all other diagenetic constituents. Mechanical compaction, although relatively limited, was the main process of porosity reduction, except in sandstones with abundant calcite cement. Primary intergranular porosity was commonly strongly reduced by calcite or smectite cementation and by compaction, but intragranular and mouldic secondary pores were generated by the dissolution of detrital feldspars and heavy minerals. Characterizing the diagenetic patterns of the Mucuri sandstones is important for increasing the recovery from producing oilfields and also for the development of analogous reservoir rocks elsewhere.     

Multi-agent simulator for urban segregation (MASUS): A tool to explore alternatives for promoting inclusive cities

Urban segregation represents a significant barrier to achieving social inclusion in cities. To mitigate this problem, it is necessary to implement policies founded upon a better understanding of segregation dynamics. This paper proposes MASUS, a multi-agent simulator for urban segregation, which provides a virtual laboratory for exploring the impacts of different contextual mechanisms on the emergence of segregation patterns. We illustrate the potential of MASUS through three experiments on segregation in São José dos Campos, a medium-sized city in southeast Brazil. The first experiment compares simulated outputs with empirical data, the second exemplifies the ability of MASUS to test theories, and the third tests an anti-segregation policy. We also discuss limitations of the current version of the model, and we recommend directions for further research.     

The challenges of regulating water and sanitation tariffs under a three-level shared-authority federalism model: The case of Brazil

Water and sanitation regulation in Brazil shall be addressed as part of a major problem that involves institutional disputes and legal uncertainty. The paper investigates the hypothesis that the complex institutional framework plays a central role in explaining country's poor performance in the sector. Methodology is mainly qualitative, presenting an analysis that shows how political, institutional and legal hurdles play a major role in explaining the government's inability to secure a financially self-sustainable structure to the sector. The paper suggests that empowering the National Water Agency to issue general guidelines may help reducing transaction costs and fostering sector's development.     

Methodology to assess groundwater pollution conditions (current and pre-disposition) in the São Carlos and Ribeirão Preto regions,Brazil

The goal of the study was to establish a methodology for territorial zoning based on predicted groundwater pollution. The 31 attributes identified were divided into six different environmental components associated with the transport of contaminants to the geological medium. Two indices were obtained: the pre-disposition index (PI), and the potential pollution intensity index (PPII). The paper reports an assessment of the potential pollution of the groundwater in the sandstones of the Botucatu and Pirambóia Formations, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The region was divided into 447 units according to the type of land use, size of watershed and degree of lithological homogeneity. The units were assessed for potential pollution in the pre-disposition condition (based on geological/geotechnical data) and the complete condition (geological/geotechnical and situation specific data) using the analytical hierarchical process method. A high degree of pollution potential was established for 35 of the units in the complete condition and 157 units in the pre-disposition condition. The study has highlighted areas where attention to pollution control should be focused.      

Invisible Agency

Jeremy Till and Tatjana Schneider call for a redefinition of the architect away from the professional who is ostensibly involved in adding ‘more stuff to the world’. Looking beyond the business of matter or managing the impact of that matter on the environment, they explore ways that designers can use their intelligence and creativity to shift existing habits of consumption and patterns of behaviour. They highlight the work for four practices who are already operating in this field: 2012Architecten, 00/:, Arif Hasan and Morar de Outras Maneiras (MOM).     

Modern housing estates and the production of the Brazilian city (1937–1960)

ABSTRACT

The social issue of housing has been a focal point in the criticism of Brazilian modernity, and it still plays a central role in the balance of Brazilian democracy. This paper discusses the investments in modern housing made by the welfare system in Brazil and which are related to the country's transition toward an urban society in the late 1930s. The analysis concludes in the 1960s, when these investments ended. The relationship between housing and the industrial economy characterized urban development in Brazil in this period. The latter saw direct state intervention in overseeing the building of houses for urban workers. This process started during Brazil's authoritarian regime [1937–1945], just as the cycle of Brazilian industrial democracy began in the mid-forties. The state housing policy worsened the urban crisis while also increasing the real estate market. It triggered several major controversies including an imbalance in urban classes associated with exclusively rich and poor neighbourhoods. The extension of the housing policy and social benefits to all citizens triggered tensions. These findings explain the challenges of political process, the changes in the housing policy and the swelling of Brazilian urban society.     

Environmental assessment of an uncontrolled sanitary landfill,Pocos de Caldas,Brazil

There are more than 20,000 uncontrolled sanitary landfill areas in Brazil. The paper reports an integrated study undertaken to develop an environmental assessment of the uncontrolled sanitary landfill area of the city of Po?os de Caldas, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A number of remedial alternatives were evaluated. The USGS modular 3D finite difference groundwater flow model (Modflow) and Modular 3D Finite Difference Mass Transport Model (MT3D) software were used to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant transport modelling, as well as to predict changes due to the proposed remediation measures. The remedial alternatives considered for normal conditions from 20 to 40 year periods were waste removal, vertical cut-off barriers, extraction wells and top capping. The results indicated that extraction wells and waste removal are the best alternatives because they significantly reduce both the extension and levels of the contamination plume even after 5 years. The extraction well proved a less expensive remedial alternative than waste removal.