The Instituto Pereira Passos (IPP) is the municipal urban planning and research institute of the City of Rio de Janeiro, dedicated to producing, organizing, and disseminating strategic information to support evidence‑based public policy. As a central hub for urban data, IPP integrates geospatial analysis, socio‑economic indicators, and territorial studies to guide decision‑making across city departments. Its work spans from mapping informal settlements and monitoring urban dynamics to developing tools, platforms, and publications that enhance transparency and improve the city’s capacity to plan for sustainable and inclusive development. Recognized for its technical expertise and its commitment to open data, IPP plays a key role in strengthening Rio de Janeiro’s urban governance. Through collaborations with universities, research institutes, and international partners, the institute fosters innovation in areas such as climate risk assessment, land administration, and digital transformation. IPP’s mission is grounded in the belief that high‑quality information is essential for building a more resilient, equitable, and well‑managed city.
Building on this strong institutional foundation, the recent visit by ITC staff to IPP opened a concrete pathway for collaboration and revealed how closely the missions of both organizations align in practice.
During the visit, ITC staff member Flavia Carvalho de Souza, Andre Mano and Mafalda Madureira were welcomed by Felipe Mandarino and colleagues, and the discussion quickly revealed a strong alignment of interests in urban data, climate‑related risks, and the monitoring of informal settlements. Both institutions identified several concrete avenues for cooperation, including hosting ITC students for internships at IPP, enabling IPP staff to participate in ITC short courses and postgraduate programmes, and jointly defining master’s thesis topics based on IPP’s research needs. The potential for co‑authoring articles for IPP’s journal, sharing datasets, and exploring synergies with PUC‑Rio further reinforced the value of a long‑term partnership.
The meeting also highlighted a set of shared research priorities, such as the typology and expansion of informal settlements, climate hazard mapping, and the use of LiDAR data to characterize and monitor vulnerable urban areas. The visit not only strengthened institutional ties but also laid the groundwork for a dynamic partnership capable of generating impactful research and capacity‑building opportunities for both organizations.
