Lessons from the Floods in São Paulo: How Engineering and Architecture Can Prevent Urban Chaos

The recent floods in São Paulo this past February and in the last days of March painted a worrying picture: streets turned into rivers, flooded metro stations, and thousands of people affected by the collapse of urban infrastructure. This crisis, far from being an isolated phenomenon, highlights a recurring problem in large cities with poor planning.

But how could engineering and architecture have changed this scenario? With the use of advanced tools such as Bentley Systems, KeyShot, and Lumion, professionals can anticipate, design, and optimize solutions to minimize the impact of extreme weather events. Let’s see how each of these technologies could have provided more efficient alternatives during São Paulo’s floods.

Background: The Flood Problem in São Paulo

São Paulo, one of the largest cities in Latin America, faces periodic floods due to several combined factors:

Accelerated urban growth: Unplanned expansion has led to urbanization that often neglects proper drainage.
Soil impermeabilization: With more paved areas, rainwater cannot be naturally absorbed, increasing accumulation in streets and stations.
Lack of adequate stormwater infrastructure: Many drainage networks and containment systems are insufficient or outdated.

The heavy rains in January and those on March 31 in São Paulo’s interior cities caused several points in the city to collapse, clearly showing the need for modern solutions to mitigate these impacts.

How Could Technological Tools Have Changed This Scenario?

Bentley Systems: Modeling and Simulation for Resilient Planning

Bentley’s solutions allow civil engineers to accurately model water behavior in urban environments. For São Paulo, using OpenFlows FLOOD and OpenFlows SewerGEMS could have enabled:

Flood scenario simulation: Modeling the impact of extreme rainfall on existing infrastructure.
Urban drainage optimization: Identifying bottlenecks and proposing solutions like reservoirs or smart drainage systems.
Integration with GIS (Geographic Information Systems): For a more detailed analysis of critical zones.

If urban designers had used these tools during the planning phase, vulnerable points could have been identified, and solutions proposed before the problem materialized.

KeyShot: Infrastructure Visualization and Project Communication

A recurring issue in urban planning is the lack of effective communication among technicians, authorities, and citizens. That’s where KeyShot can make a difference.

Realistic renderings of architectural solutions: Visualize how drainage infrastructure could integrate with the urban landscape.
Impactful presentations for decision-makers: Hyper-realistic images can help get innovative projects approved more easily.
Material and texture simulation: To evaluate more sustainable and aesthetic solutions without compromising functionality.

In São Paulo’s case, better visualization of drainage and urban planning proposals could have convinced authorities to invest in more efficient solutions before disaster struck.

Lumion: Real-Time Urban Design and Impact Assessment

Lumion is a powerful tool for architects and urban planners seeking to assess the visual and functional impact of their projects. In São Paulo’s crisis, it could have played a key role in:

Simulating urban environments with varying rainfall levels: Visualizing in real time how streets and public spaces would behave.
Assessing the impact of urban vegetation: Designs including green areas and nature-based solutions reduce soil impermeabilization.
Clear stakeholder communication: Interactive 3D models help clarify problems and solutions.

If tools like Lumion had been used in the design phase, different flood mitigation alternatives could have been tested before the crisis escalated.

Technology as an Ally in Preventing Urban Disasters

The floods in São Paulo were not an unavoidable accident but the consequence of poor planning. However, technology offers concrete solutions that can transform how we design and manage our cities.

Using Bentley Systems for modeling and simulation, KeyShot for visualization and communication, and Lumion for real-time urban design enables engineers and architects to anticipate disasters and propose more efficient solutions.

If we want more resilient cities, we need to integrate these tools into the planning process from the start. It’s not just about reacting to crises, but preventing them through intelligence and technology.

What’s Next?

If you’re an engineer, architect, or urban planner and want to learn more about how these tools can help you design more efficient and sustainable projects, keep exploring our blog at Aufiero Informática — we have the solutions to innovate your Engineering and Architecture processes. The planning of the future starts today!