3D Reconstruction Survey of Complex Informal Settlements Towards an understanding of the genesis of form

Abstract

The Brazilian favelas are a kind of informal settlements characterized by steep topography and a maze-like structure. Like many other settlements of its kind that are prevalent in developing countries today, they are often considered a problem rather than a solution. This paper is part of a larger research that taking a realistic stand aims to understand the formal structure of this city-shaping force and capture it into a rule-based, computational model. The goal is to develop appropriate requalifying procedures to intervene in informal settlements and guidelines for designing formal settlements in similar sites. The paper is focused on the use of digital technologies to reconstruct in 3D a favela used as a case study, a preliminary step to understand its formal structure and create a computational model.