The Farol

Implementing the Recife Municipal Data Management System

Abstract

This project presents the methodology for structuring Farol, an information management system developed by the Municipality of Recife, aimed at consolidating, integrating, and making strategic data available to support public decision-making. Considering the challenges faced by public administrations in the effective use of information—such as system fragmentation, lack of standards, and difficulty in accessing updated data—Farol was conceived as an institutional data governance solution focused on resolutiveness, transparency, and administrative modernization.

The study adopts a qualitative approach, with an emphasis on applied research and documentary analysis, complemented by interviews and workshops with managers and technicians from strategic government bodies. The development methodology was inspired by the generic software engineering model of Pressman and Maxim (2016), adapted to the public context in an iterative and participatory cycle, anchored in the principles of participatory research.

The results include the mapping of data flows, definition of functional requirements, development of prototypes and models, and automation of updates using the n8n software. The first version of the system consolidated features such as the visualization and editing of public policies, programs, and services, reaching over 21,000 accesses in less than a year. The initiative brought concrete gains in data integration, flow standardization, process automation, and the strengthening of an evidence-based institutional culture.

Farol stands out as a strategic infrastructure for municipal public management, contributing to innovative practices in institutional intelligence and reinforcing the role of information as an essential asset in the formulation and monitoring of public policies.