The Race to Map Brazil's Favelas

In an effort to tap into new users, companies like Google and Microsoft are racing to map the winding, informal streets of Brazil's slums in Rio de Janeiro.

1 minute read

September 25, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


As reported in the Wall Street Journal by Will Connors, more than 85 percent of Brazil's 1.5 million favela residents own a mobile phone, with more than 50 percent accessing the Internet regularly. Companies providing free mapping services like Google and Microsoft are beginning to map the informal slums throughout Rio de Janeiro, with the help of local residents and volunteers.

Long unrecognized by municipalities, officials never commissioned cartographers to map these settlements. Local residents, such as Eliana Silva of Redes de Maré, have organized local mapping efforts within the airport-adjacent favela of Maré in an attempt to obtain recognition and public services. While Silva mapped one favela, the two tech giants are working in four different favelas within Rio, and more throughout the country.

However, mapping these "dense, often hilly favelas hasn't been without challenges. Many streets didn't have official names, so local organizations polled residents. One street in Maré was named after a particularly handy local electrician who had lived there. In some cases, volunteers had to send in mediators first to persuade local criminals to let them do the mapping."

Overall, the companies hope these mapping efforts will help to open up the favelas and integrate them better into the city. In addition, more businesses on the maps helps the companies' bottom line through greater advertising revenue.

Thursday, September 25, 2014 in The Wall Street Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

15 minutes ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

1 hour ago - Cities Today

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA