📍 Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Making Rio's transport system smarter and more resilient with data
Rio de Janeiro is testing two digital tools: a camera-based algorithm that counts pedestrians and cyclists in the city's low-emission zone, and an innovation challenge that turns local startups into partners for keeping buses running through extreme weather.
Belo Horizonte at a glance
Rio de Janeiro already runs one of Latin America's most capable city operations centres. The city uses GPS, GTFS and ticketing data to manage the bus network and respond to emergencies.
The city is rolling out the CicloRio Cycling Expansion Plan aiming to add up to 442 new cycling connections over ten years and grow the network to 1,000 km by 2033. Rio de Janeiro also has an established low-emission zone in the Central area.The city has extreme weather with recurring heavy rain, heat waves and landslide risk.
Why Rio de Janeiro?
A strong foundation for digital mobility
Inside the Central low-emission zone, the city has ambitious cycling infrastructure plans but little systematic data on who's actually walking and cycling. Citywide, the bus network runs well under normal conditions but is exposed to extreme weather. One pilot builds the missing evidence base for active mobility; the other builds a repeatable pipeline for sourcing and incubating digital solutions to climate resilience
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Explore the ACCESS pilots in Rio de Janeiro
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Aboutthe pilot
Algorithmic Counting System (camera-based pedestrian and cyclist counting)
This pilot develops an Algorithmic Counting System (ACS) that applies computer vision to existing camera footage, automatically detecting and counting pedestrians and cyclists. It's being built by the University of Monterrey with ITDP, using the same core algorithm being developed in parallel for Belo Horizonte's low-emission zone.
The streets prioritised for counting will be defined jointly with the municipal government, aligned with the CicloRio expansion plan's own prioritisation of new cycling infrastructure.
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At a glance
Challenge
Generate reliable, low-cost data on pedestrian and cyclist movement.
Solution
An Algorithmic Counting System (ACS) that uses computer vision to detect and count pedestrians and cyclists.
Technology
A convolutional neural network (CNN)-based video-detection algorithm, validated against manual counts.
Avoid
Reusing cameras the city already operates to plan and deliver more walking and cycling infrastructur
Shift
Prioritising cycling and pedestrian infrastructure to support decision making and investments.
Improve
Improve the city's ability to monitor and evaluate its own active-mobility policies over time.
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Expectedoutcomes
Environmental
Generate the evidence needed to target low-carbon infrastructure and policy decisions more effectively.
Social
A better understanding of unique pedestrian and cyclist movement.
Economic & Operational
Utilisation of existing technology with modifications to meet planning and investment needs.
Digital & Innovation
A user-friendly interface for the ACS and a distributed user manual, making the tool usable by municipal staff beyond the pilot.
Governance / Institutional Frameworks
A scalability plan covering camera placement, data storage and maintenance requirements for citywide adoption.
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Aboutthe pilot
Public Transport and Climate Resilience (the COR Challenge)
This pilot works through the COR Challenge an annual hackathon-style innovation event run by COR-Rio, now in its 8th edition. The Challenge engages local startups to design digital solutions for municipal bus operations under extreme weather.
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At a glance
Challenge
Improve the resilience of municipal bus operations to extreme weather events.
Solution
A structured innovation pipeline that sources, tests and matures digital solutions from local startups.
Technology
Startup-built digital tools.
Avoid
Avoid disruption and unreliable service during extreme weather by giving both operators and riders better real-time information and response tools.
Shift
Keep public transport a viable, trusted choice during adverse weather
Improve
Improve municipal bus operations' resilience and responsiveness through validated, incubated digital tools
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Expectedoutcomes
Environmental
Keeping public transport reliable and attractive during extreme weather.
Social
At least five startups and five institutional or technical partners engaged in the Challenge.
Economic & Operational
At least one digital-focused transport solution successfully demonstrated and implemented.
Digital & Innovation
Startup-developed digital tools.
Governance / Institutional Frameworks
Knowledge products developed and shared with other cities and regions.
Where ACCESS is working in Belo horizonte
This map helps visitors explore where ACCESS is working and why each location matters. Toggle layers to see logistics activity, public transport corridors, curbside management areas and data-analysis geographies.
Interactive overview of ACCESS pilot and mobility focus areas.
What ACCESS will measure
What ACCESS will measure
ACCESS will measure how accurately and reliably a camera-based algorithm can monitor active mobility in the low-emission zone, and how effectively an open innovation model can produce digital tools that improve public transport resilience to extreme weather.
Gender and inclusion
Gender and inclusion
Each pilot includes tailored actions shaped together with local partners. The ACCESS teams are following the Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Guidelines on Safeguards for the ACCESS project, aligning activities with Brazil’s Gender Action Plan, and promoting continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
From pilot to scale
Lessons beyond Belo horizonte
The Rio de Janeiro pilots are designed to generate lessons for other cities in Brazil and Latin America. ACCESS will use the results from Rio de Janeiro to support replication, capacity building and policy recommendations on transport digitalisation, sustainable logistics and inclusive mobility planning.
Download and explore
Explore resources, guidance and learning materials from the Rio de Janeiro pilots to support active-mobility monitoring, climate-resilient public transport, inclusive mobility and evidence-based transport planning.
Key statistics and insights from Rio de Janeiro.
Download factsheetSummaries of Rio de Janeiro’s camera-based active-mobility counting pilot and climate-resilient bus innovation challenge.
View pilot briefsEvaluation and results from pilot implementation.
View monitoring reportsResources supporting inclusive and gender-responsive mobility.
View gender resourcesGuidelines for responsible data management and digitalisation.
View data guidanceTraining materials, tools and lessons from ACCESS.
Explore learning resourcesPractical steps for scaling and replicating pilot projects.
View replication checklistTake the next step with ACCESS
The Rio de Janeiro pilots are designed to generate lessons for other cities in Brazil and Latin America. ACCESS will use the results from Rio de Janeiro to support replication, capacity building and policy recommendations on transport digitalisation, climate-resilient public transport, active-mobility planning and inclusive mobility.