A GUERRA DOS POSTES: O CAOS DO CABEAMENTO AÉREO NO BRASIL

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.823112628011

• Palavras-chave: Infraestrutura aérea urbana; Compartilhamento de postes; Veículos aéreos não tripulados (VANTs); Governança regulatória; Inspeção urbana não invasiva

• Keywords: Urban aerial infrastructure; Utility pole sharing; Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); Regulatory governance; Non-invasive urban inspection

• Abstract: This paper analyses the structural disorder and overload of aerial infrastructure installed on urban utility poles in Brazil, a phenomenon widely known as the “pole war”, from the perspective of urban systems engineering. The accelerated expansion of telecommunications services, combined with the lack of integrated planning and the fragility of regulatory mechanisms, has intensified the disorganized occupation of poles originally designed for electric power distribution. The adopted methodology is based on a systematic visual inspection of urban aerial networks, supported by images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), complemented by the analysis of technical records related to operational failures and service interruptions. This approach enabled the identification of recurring patterns of non-compliance with technical standards issued by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), particularly regarding infrastructure sharing, spatial organization, and safety requirements. The results reveal the presence of overlapping cables, absence of standardized identification, structural degradation of poles, and precarious technical interventions, factors that significantly increase the risk of electrical accidents, fires, structural collapses, and unavailability of electricity and telecommunications services. The analysis also demonstrates that the use of UAVs constitutes a technically effective tool for non-invasive inspection, as it expands spatial coverage, reduces the exposure of technical teams to hazardous environments, and generates visual evidence with high traceability potential. However, the effectiveness of this approach is conditioned on strict compliance with the regulatory framework established by the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), and data protection legislation. It is concluded that overcoming the “pole war” requires a systemic approach grounded in the integration of technical standardization, continuous regulatory oversight, and the responsible use of aerial inspection technologies, representing a key element for the reengineering of Brazilian urban infrastructure and for the development of safer and more efficient cities.