Description: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that in 2022 the world surpassed 100 million people in forced displacement, driven by numerous reasons. In Brazil, since 2011, there have been 297,712 applications for recognition of refugee status. Due to its complexity and the high number of people affected, the refugee humanitarian crisis needs to be addressed by governments in cooperation with civil society and the private sector to ensure that forcibly displaced individuals have their human rights protected during a reception process that is effective and attentive to their needs.

Thus, for those interested in assisting Brazil in addressing the migration crisis, Rede Refugia was conceived within the scope of the Production Engineering Program (PEP) at COPPE/CT/UFRJ. It is a collaborative technological platform aimed at facilitating the reception, protection, and integration of forcibly displaced persons in Brazil. The platform seeks to strengthen mutual collaboration processes among refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, public authorities, private entities, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders. Through a process of social innovation, Rede Refugia aims to foster an environment that encourages the implementation of innovative solutions to the challenges faced by forcibly displaced people living in Brazil.

Members: Tharcisio Cotta Fontainha (Coordinator) / Estevão Cristian da Silva Leite (Member) / Fábio Luiz Pires Moraes (Member)

Funding: UFRJ Technological Park; Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Description: Data related to disasters have been increasing over the years in terms of the number of events, deaths, frequency, and magnitude. The latest report from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) highlights that the number of victims in 2022 was nearly double the median number of deaths between 2002 and 2021.

In Brazil, between 2011 and 2022, specifically in Rio de Janeiro, there were 591 disaster occurrences, resulting in 987 deaths, affecting 3.9 million people, and causing economic losses exceeding R$ 3.08 billion. These figures demonstrate the complexity and importance of Humanitarian and Disaster Operations (HDO), which involve coordination among multiple stakeholders.

In this context, the extension initiative “Ceped Coppe – 2024 Humanitarian and Disaster Operations Seminars” is proposed to present and discuss the impacts of climate change in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, and globally, to raise awareness and educate on disaster management, and to explore perspectives for advancing the relationship between academia and society.

This series of events features speakers from various COPPE graduate programs (e.g., Production Engineering Program, Transportation Engineering Program, Civil Engineering Program, etc.), researchers from COPPE and other partner institutions, as well as civil defense professionals, military personnel, and other organizations involved with disaster-related topics in Brazil and worldwide.

Members: Tharcisio Cotta Fontainha (Coordinator) / Ana Paula Pereira Maiato Nascimento (Member) / Estevão Cristian da Silva Leite (Member) / Fábio Luiz Pires Moraes (Member) / Renan Caldas Correia (Member)

Funding: UFRJ Technological Park; Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Description: In 2022, disasters caused more than 30,704 deaths, affected 185 million people, and resulted in damages of 223.8 billion dollars, according to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). In Brazil, between 2011 and 2022, specifically in Rio de Janeiro, there were 591 disaster occurrences, resulting in 987 deaths, affecting 3.9 million people, and causing economic losses exceeding R$ 3.08 billion (Digital Atlas of Disasters in Brazil, 2023).

These figures demonstrate the importance and complexity of Humanitarian and Disaster Operations (HDO), which involve access to affected areas, coordination among multiple stakeholders, and resource shortages.

The Droneiros Voluntários project was thus conceived within the scope of the Production Engineering Program (PEP) at COPPE/CT/UFRJ to help address the shortage of human and technological resources in disaster response. The project features a technological platform that acts as a facilitator, connecting drone owners, civil defense, and other organizations in mapping at-risk and disaster-affected areas, promoting more effective and efficient collaboration among stakeholders in the context of HDO.

In this sense, the project also focuses on engagement and knowledge exchange among the different target audiences, fostering more effective and efficient HDOs, with integration across different scientific disciplines and researchers of various levels involved in HDO.

Members: Tharcisio Cotta Fontainha (Coordinator) / Estevão Cristian da Silva Leite (Member) / Fábio Luiz Pires Moraes (Member) / Renan Caldas Correia (Member)

Funding: UFRJ Technological Park; Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).