STRATEGIC URBAN PLANNING FOR SMART AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN BRAZIL: AN APPROACH BASED ON SWOT ANALYSIS

This study proposed a strategic framework aimed at guiding urban planning for smart and sustainable cities in Brazil, considering the territorial heterogeneity outlined by the urban hierarchy of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The research adopted a qualitative, exploratory approach grounded in interdisciplinary theoretical and conceptual foundations. Methodological procedures included bibliographic and documentary research, encompassing national and international academic and normative sources related to urban-technological themes. For data analysis, the SWOT matrix (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) was employed as the central analytical tool to comparatively assess internal capacities and external conditions across three urban categories: metropolises, medium-sized cities, and small municipalities. The findings revealed that the effectiveness of smart and sustainable urban strategies was closely linked to the adaptation of guidelines to local specificities, the integration of technology with participatory governance and environmental sustainability, and the development of differentiated solutions according to urban scale. It was concluded that the SWOT analysis constituted an effective methodological instrument for the formulation of context-sensitive urban guidelines, contributing to the advancement of more equitable, innovative, and sustainable public policies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda