Aplicação da metodologia best-worst scalling para avaliação dos subsistemas viário e de drenagem pluvial no centro da cidade de Paulo Ramos - MA

Abstract

This paper presents an approach on the application of the Best-Worst Scaling methodology to evaluate the road and storm drainage subsystems in the city's downtown of Paulo Ramos - MA. Despite the various types of subsystems present in the urban infrastructure, the road and storm drainage subsystems were the focus of this research, as they have a great influence in the municipality of Paulo Ramos - MA, since there are several poorly maintained roads, lack of signage and infrastructure for parking management, soil impermeability, flooding and waterlogging in the city's downtown and poor maintenance of drainage elements. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the main factors that prevent the proper functioning of the road and storm urban drainage subsystems in the city's downtown of Paulo Ramos - MA, examining the inefficient factors of these subsystems in the city's downtown and relating their impacts to the quality of life of the population. To this end, a virtual questionnaire was applied and made available via a link to the residents of Paulo Ramos, MA, and some photographs were taken regarding the scope of the factors. The Best-Worst Scaling methodology was used to analyze the data obtained, which classifies the attributes as “best”, “worst” or neither, according to the perceptions of the residents of Paulo Ramos. The results revealed that the profile of the interviewees can influence how they are perceived, in addition to that, the indicators “General condition of the roads” and “Accessibility for pedestrians” were perceived as the most important in the road subsystem; “Rainwater drainage capacity” and “Presence of garbage on the streets” in the storm drainage subsystem; and, regarding the quality of life in the city's downtown, the most influential indicators were “Traffic signs” and “Urban waste collection”. Given the results, we can conclude that all indicators have some relevance, of greater or lesser influence, for the efficiency of the road and storm drainage subsystems, as well as for the quality of life of the population. It is also worth noting that the methodology applied is easy to use and can be beneficial for several other situations.