TCU Project Advances in Selection of Infrastructure Analysis Tools

The Panoptes - Infra project, developed by the Geotechnologies Research Group at the Serzedello Corrêa Institute for Capacity Building (ISC), was selected in the first stage of the AdaptaInfra Innovation Fund, an initiative of the Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS) in partnership with German Cooperation (GIZ). The proposal will now move on to the acceleration phase, during which it will receive technical support for further development.

The tool uses automated geospatial analysis to identify risks in linear infrastructure projects, such as highways, railways, transmission lines, and pipelines. The solution cross-references project routes with public social, environmental, and land-tenure databases, generating segment-based risk matrices and standardized reports to support government oversight activities.

The initiative seeks to strengthen evidence-based audits, enabling the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) to challenge feasibility studies submitted by developers and identify, at early stages, risks of project suspension, cost overruns, and underestimated socio-environmental impacts.

Data That Reveal Risks

The project addresses a recurring gap in public administration. Although a large volume of geospatial data is available, its use in infrastructure planning remains limited. This asymmetry contributes to delays, litigation, cost increases, and environmental impacts that could otherwise be avoided.

In this context, Panoptes - Infra is expected to directly support the TCU unit responsible for overseeing highway and aviation infrastructure, with applications in the screening of projects under the National Logistics Plan (PNL). Specifically, it will assist in assessing project maturity (iPMP) and in establishing parameters for cost and timeline estimates based on similar projects.

The tool may also be used throughout all stages of the project life cycle, from planning to execution, with continuous risk monitoring and verification of environmental conditions and requirements. Projects under the PNL are included in the Court's annual oversight plan, Fiscobras.

The system architecture is based on open technology and cloud processing, eliminating the need for local infrastructure and facilitating replication by other supreme audit institutions. The proposal is aligned with international agendas such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as initiatives focused on sustainable infrastructure and climate justice.

The feasibility of the model has already been demonstrated in the Panoptes - Rural Credit project, which used geotechnologies and satellite imagery to identify BRL 29.7 billion in irregularities and oversee more than 422,000 rural properties.

Panoptes - Infra is coordinated by TCU federal auditor Leonardo Leão and includes the participation of researchers Flávia Lacerda and Remis Balaniuk.