The Piraí Digital Project
Connected to the world
without losing the identity
Digital Exclusion leads to Social Exclusion.
Democratization of the access to the means of
information and communication by way of implementing a
network for voice and data transmission, thus generating
opportunities for social and economic development.
Information access for all, including, the rural population.
Teachers, technical and administrative public employees
as well as the community participate in programs on new
technologies for education.
The Main Objective
The objective of the PIRAÍ – Digital City project is to
grant democratic access to existing information and
communication resources, thus generating economic and social
opportunities, therefore broadening the city horizons by using and
managing knowledge through the implementation of a voice/data
transmission network to make the access to the broadband
internet possible.
This project confirms the strategic vision of a local
information society, with citizens as the main actors in producing,
managing and enjoying the benefits brought by new information
and communication technologies.
The Project Preparation
For the project preparation, three main points have been
taken into consideration: network architecture, management
design, and social control design.
The network architecture has been developed to grant
universal access and create a new city infrastructure through a
digital communication service. Therefore, it would be possible to
cross the limits of the present point-to-point digital inclusion and
create a new network to integrate the existing infrastructure
network – such as electric energy, sanitation, etc.
The Project Preparation
Starting from such physical infrastructure, a
management outline was consolidated with the creation of four
large activity areas, each one with specific goals: .GOV, .EDU,
.ORG, and .COM. The first one - .GOV – was in charge of
developing the e-government and electronic governance. The
.EDU area developed new pedagogic methods in the
laboratories, by adapting the present curriculum parameters. The
.ORG area implemented telecommunication centers, offering
services and courses. Finally, the .COM area will allow the
community to access the Internet at low rates.
The Project Preparation
The third main point – social control – has been
exercised through the formation of the City Advisory Board to
observe the territorial impact of the changes on the city.
The Project
Starting the Project
The result was the formulation of a SHSW system (a
Hybrid System with Wireless Support) , which may be installed
and replicated in small towns at a low cost and with flexible
technology. This system has been installed and used throughout
the city.
Management
The different leaderships in projects development and the need to
join different activities, advise us to create a Board of Managers
that support the program development.
Piraí.GOV
This area as been implemented by the Modernization Program of
Tax Administration and Management of Basic Social Sectors
(BNDES – PMAT).
The first phase of this project is administrative modernization.
Piraí.ORG
The project Piraí.Org will work with Federal Fluminense University
and NGOs initiatives that have been developed in the County,
such as those already developed with VIVA RIO in the education
and community development areas.
Piraí.GOV
Piraí.ORG
Piraí.EDU
The project is a part of the digital inclusion and the main targets
are the County education network and the community in general.
It can contribute to the democratization of knowledge and an
effective participation of the citizens in their family life, work,
school and another social spaces.
Piraí.COM
Enterprise integration in the constitution of telecommunications
infra-structure network as a community asset contributing to
process of digital inclusion, a social responsibility.
Piraí.EDU
Piraí.COM
More Than a Project,
It is a Reality
Key Dates
Inauguration of an Online University - the result of a Consortium
formed by Public Universities (04/2002).
The creation of the Online University introduces a Human
Development course in the city, which incorporates new information
and knowledge technologies.
Signature of an Agreement with UFF (Fluminense Federal
University) for implementation of the Piraí Digital Project (08/2002).
Such Agreement will enable the project design and implementation,
utilizing the University’s human resources.
Key Dates
The formation of a City Advisory Board to observe the Digital City
Master Plan (01/2004).
The Advisory Board has been formed aiming to motivate the
community and analyze the project territorial impact.
Inauguration of the entire network in the SHSW System, as well as
telecommunication centers, laboratories and kiosks (02/2004).
The Network
Up to now, the network implementation has represented
the greatest challenge faced by the project because of the
existing difficulties. In the first place, we could not entirely trust
that the telephone companies would be able to install digital
telephone lines (DSL) in a short time. According to the Brazilian
Telecommunications Agency – ANATEL’s forecast, such
installation was foreseen for the period 2010-2014.
The Radio Towers:
The Network
The Cable Connection:
The Community Expansion:
Connecting Other Cities:
The First Wireless Network
Access points: 25
Cost: US$ 235.000,00
The Optimized SHSW Network
Access points: 35 (40% more)
Cost: US$ 100.000,00 (58% less)
The Great Network Working as One
Access points: 52
Schools: 20
Cost: US$ 340.000,00
The Education
The Public Online University (CEDERJ-PIRAÍ),
inaugurated in 2002, has a strategic role in the project. The Rio
de Janeiro Online Learning Center – CEDERJ is a consortium
formed by public universities, with online college courses.
CEDERJ offers extension courses, giving priority to those
courses focusing on CIT like the Digital and Cyberspace
Exclusion Course (UERJ), Education-oriented Information
Technology (UFF).
The Management
The main project planning activity was to create a
monitoring and evaluating system. The monitoring system aims at
combining quantitative and qualitative researches, identifying how
the population has incorporated the new information and
communication technologies in their daily life. Four levels were
analyzed management, effects, results, and impacts.
The Sustainability
The sustainability dimension is being worked on both the
public and the private dimension integrating the network. The
SHSW network had its link, so Municipal Government is the
Internet Service Provider and shall be the funds provider.
The project has been thoroughly followed by the City
Advisory Board. Telecenters are being formed - with a
management board - which will enable the community to
participate in the definition of the courses to be drawn up and
carried out. This means aiming at sustainability through the social
capital production.
Main Impact Indicators
Result Index
50 % of the public workers with high capacity of
using computers
100% of the public workers can comunnicate
using email
All the public buildings cennected to internet
All Schools connected to internet
All the students use the labs.
10% of the population use the labs
10 kiosks are installed
Status
30%
100%
100%
90%
90%
10%
60%
Information is Everyone´s Right
Technology is the means to achive it
The Lessons that we have learn
• It is necessary to adopt technology and make it suitable for
the reality of each territory and Society.
• Identify and utilize the human and cognitive material present
in the community.
• Create local governance spaces so as to influence the
community positively and allow it to appropriate the TICs and
use them in their daily life.
• Carry on planning and monitoring collectively, for
consolidation of a management team and for generation of a
new administrative culture.
The Lessons that we have learn
• Improving managerial skills is essential to reach selfsustainability and this has had an impact on the definition of
human resources with management abilities.
• Indicators shall be built together with the beneficiaries so as
to enable them to become the subjects of the process.
• The development of specific didactic material for those
communities is essential, because a specific language will be
important in achieving the courses objectives.
• One of the best impact indicators, though difficult to be
measured, is the population self-esteem.
National Recognition
Ford Foundation
CONIP
Price
and Getulio Vargas Foundation Award
International Recognition
Local Recognition
The Team:
Luiz Fernando de Souza Pezão – Official Representative
Franklin Dias Coelho – General Coordinator
Maria Helena Cautiero Jardim – Executive Coordinator
Arthur Henrique Ferreira – Mayor
Luiz Antônio Neves – Vice-Mayor
André Macara - Dot.com Manager
Gustavo Ferreira – Dot.gov Manager
Kariane – Dot.org Manager
Our Partners
Thank you for your
attention
[email protected]
Contact: Franklin Coelho
or
Maria Helena Horta Jardim
www.piraidigital.com.br