As a case study the paper presents the favela Vila Canoas, urbanized in 2000 and currently in the process of regularization - Vila Canoas, with a demographic density 30 times higher than the city's average, has few open spaces amidst its residential buildings.

There have been significant improvements in infrastructure after the upgrading, but most housing still offer insufficient living conditions and have serious maintenance problems - The work aims to assist in the development of mechanisms that will deal with the inadequate housing conditions in informal settlements in a conscious, efficient and sustainable way that will ensure the residents enjoy a good quality of life.