Challenges in the development of small cities in the semi-arid: The case of Água Nova – RN

Abstract

The need to plan urban space arises at the moment when mobility, infrastructure, unemployment, spatial segregation, among other socio-spatial problems, become more evident and start to interfere in the population's way of life. A basic tool of great value for planning actions for the development of cities is the master plan, an instrument for urban planning and management. The state of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the Brazilian semi-arid region, is composed of 167 municipalities, of which only 28 have a population of over 20 thousand inhabitants, marked by the absence, for the most part, of instruments that will promote and contribute to the development and territorial planning. Água Nova, a municipality in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, has an estimated population of 3,252 inhabitants (IBGE, 2020), which makes it a small municipality. In addition to a small population, Água Nova has a strong presence of the natural landscape, characteristics of the rural environment, and the absence of large commercial and industrial centers. In this sense, this work aimed to analyze urban planning in small cities with a focus on the city of Água Nova. The methodological process consisted of a bibliographic study, as well as a survey of data on the object in question, based on fieldwork and data collection from secondary sources, through public agencies and institutions. As a result, it was found an urban planning policy still in the process of construction and a deficient urban layout.