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Monitoring system helps predict risks in public works, reduce public waste, and strengthen public infrastructure management.
Brazil may be facing a new strategy to tackle a historical problem with public works. Researchers from the FEI University Center have developed a system capable of issuing alerts before projects are interrupted or abandoned. The tool cross-references financial data and social indicators to support more efficient decisions, reduce public waste, and improve infrastructure planning.
According to an article published by VEJA on July 2, 2026, the study was conducted by Marco Antonio Portugal and Gabriela Scur from the FEI Graduate Program in Administration. The research used about 46,000 documents from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and revealed that approximately 87% of the contracts analyzed showed signs of delay, stagnation, or discrepancies between estimated costs and schedules.
New system identifies risks before the stoppage of public works
The main advantage of the tool is its ability to act preventively. Instead of pointing out problems when a project has already been interrupted, the system identifies warning signs that indicate a higher probability of stoppage.
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To do this, the system cross-references financial data with socio-environmental indicators, such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From this analysis, a ranking is created showing which public works require more attention from managers, allowing interventions before the situation worsens. This approach strengthens public management, improves infrastructure planning, and helps reduce public waste.
Analysis of 46,000 documents revealed a worrying scenario
To develop the model, Marco Antonio Portugal and Gabriela Scur analyzed an extensive database provided by the Federal Court of Accounts. In total, about 46,000 documents were evaluated, containing information on public contracts from different areas.
The survey showed that approximately 87% of the contracts had some indication of delay, stoppage, stagnation, or significant differences between the planned budget and the original schedule. These results reinforce the importance of using tools capable of identifying problems before they cause greater impacts on project execution.
Public management gains a tool to reduce public waste
One of the most relevant points of the research was to show that the interruption of public works does not always occur solely due to a lack of financial resources.
According to the analysis conducted by FEI researchers, issues related to governance, coordination between public bodies, and contract management are also among the main factors that favor the stoppage of projects.
With the support of artificial intelligence, these signals can be identified in advance. In practice, this allows public management to correct failures before they cause greater losses or increase public waste.
How the matrix that defines priorities works
The system uses a prioritization matrix to assess which projects need immediate attention. The model considers various factors simultaneously, making the analysis more comprehensive and strategic.
Among the main criteria are:
- financial situation of the contracts;
- Human Development Index (HDI);
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- social impact of the project;
- history of delays;
- contract execution indicators.
After cross-referencing this information, the system generates a ranking of public works with the highest risk of stoppage. This classification helps to direct investments in infrastructure more efficiently.
Infrastructure can gain more efficient planning with the new system
In addition to supporting oversight, the technology can also improve the planning of public policies. By identifying risks in advance, managers can reorganize schedules, review contracts, and prioritize projects that have a greater impact on the population.
This type of monitoring favors a more rational application of resources allocated to infrastructure. At the same time, it strengthens public management, reduces public waste, and increases the chances of completing public works.
Benefits go beyond resource savings
Although cost reduction is one of the main expected results, the gains can be even greater. Among the benefits highlighted by the research are:
- greater administrative efficiency;
- strengthening of preventive oversight;
- better definition of priorities;
- greater transparency of contracts;
- reduction of delays;
- optimization of public investments.
All these factors contribute to reducing public waste and making public works more efficient.
New system follows a global trend in public administration
Several countries have been using data analysis and artificial intelligence to improve public administration. The study developed by FEI shows that this type of technology can also be applied to the Brazilian reality.
By using data already available in control agencies, the system expands the monitoring capacity of public works without relying solely on on-site inspections. This represents an important advancement for public management, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects.
An advancement that can change the future of public works
The work developed by Marco Antonio Portugal and Gabriela Scur shows that the strategic use of data can transform the way the public sector monitors large projects. By analyzing approximately 46 thousand documents and identifying indications present in about 87% of contracts, the research demonstrates that many problems can be detected before the official stoppage of the works.
If adopted by municipalities, state governments, ministries, and other public agencies, the tool has the potential to strengthen public management, reduce public waste, make investments in infrastructure more efficient, and increase the chances of completing public works through preventive monitoring.
