The public areas database (which includes streets, avenues, walkways, bridges and viaducts), is perhaps the most significant within CEM’s cartographic archive of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR). In addition to representing the city's road network, it allows for the identification of squares, parks, canals, and broader patterns of urban design, making it an unparalleled tool for geocoding and locating specific phenomena, whether it be people, events or amenities.

The 2018 edition totals 326,004 segments (defined as stretches of road, measured from corner to corner), of which 89% have a name, numbered properties and a ZIP code. This number is impressive when we take into account the complex dynamics of urban development in the metropolis. Despite SPMR’s observed trends towards densification and stabilization and away from urban sprawl, the metropolis nonetheless continues to experience constant change, with the appearance of new settlements, residential developments, condominiums, road and urban transport networks, major infrastructure and so on, which have important impacts on mapping, geometric representation and attributes.

Since 2014, CEM’s public areas database has incorporated a large number of changes. For the current edition, more than 43 thousand segments – 13% of the total – were altered or included for the first time. The changes refer to the design or layout, technically called GEOMETRY or the data referring to each segment, called ATTRIBUTES. The road layout (roads, avenues, highways, viaducts, etc.) can be reallocated for a more precise positioning, as well as expanded with new segments. The attributes can also be adjusted or complemented with additional information, such as street name, zip code, addresses, the district to which it belongs, etc.

For instant access, simply click on the Database area of the site and register.