Eduardo Costa

Brazilian favela educator using drone technology for community transformation

Growing up in Rocinha favela, Eduardo Costa (b.1992) founded "Drones para o Povo" (Drones for the People) in 2015. His aerial mapping initiative created 3D models of informal settlements, enabling 380,000 residents to obtain property titles. The program reduced violent evictions by 73% in participating communities.

Costa's IoT-enabled drone networks monitor environmental risks, detecting landslides 14 hours faster than government systems. His Drone Journalism School trained 214 favela youths in aerial documentation, exposing police brutality cases through 360° evidentiary footage.

In 2023, he launched medical delivery corridors using customized drones carrying vaccines and emergency supplies. The system reduced neonatal mortality by 41% in remote Amazonian communities. Current projects include developing anti-jamming drone tech to combat drug cartels' signal interference.