What Happened
A Panamanian software engineering student has developed a geospatial tool aimed at helping San Miguelito identify and prioritize small illegal trash dumps scattered across the district.
The project, called PatacónGIS, was created by Anilys Rodríguez of the Technological University of Panama (UTP). It won first place in the Young Scholars Award 2026, a competition organized by Esri Panamá, a company focused on geographic information systems (GIS).
Rodríguez’s model is designed to help locate so-called “pataconeras” more strategically, with the goal of improving where trash containers, or “tinaqueras,” should be placed.
Why San Miguelito
Rodríguez said she chose San Miguelito because the district faces a serious waste-management challenge driven by rapid population growth, unplanned development and difficult terrain.
She said the problem is visible on the ground: trash piles can block streets and sidewalks, making pedestrian movement difficult and affecting traffic flow. In her view, the issue is not only about public behavior, but also about how the district’s urban systems move or fail to move waste efficiently.
In Panama, informal trash piles are often called “pataconcitos,” a reference to Cerro Patacón, the capital’s main landfill.
How the Map Works
The project uses multiple layers of data to identify where illegal dumping is occurring and where waste infrastructure should be placed. Rodríguez incorporated the location of existing trash piles, population density, people per household, road networks, and the location of rivers and streams.
That combination helped her map critical points across the district and detect dumps near water sources. According to the project data, 12.26% of the “pataconcitos” are located less than 30 meters from a body of water.
The model is meant to support better planning by showing where the biggest risks are and where intervention may be most effective.
From Panama to San Diego
The project will be presented internationally in San Diego, California, from July 13 to 17, where Rodríguez will share San Miguelito’s waste challenge and the importance of preventing improper garbage disposal.
She also said the initiative is intended to involve the public. Residents would be able to report new trash hotspots through a survey or a QR code linked to the project website, allowing the map to be updated with community input.
Rodríguez added that the model is adaptable and could be replicated in other places. She has discussed the idea with Aseo Capital, the company responsible for waste collection in San Miguelito, because the variables used in the system can be adjusted depending on each territory.
Why It Matters
San Miguelito is home to more than 380,000 people and generates around 400 tons of trash per day, a figure that can rise during the year-end holiday season. In that context, a tool like PatacónGIS could help authorities and service providers better target waste collection efforts and reduce the spread of informal dumps.
For now, the project stands out as a locally developed response to a very visible urban problem — one that combines public health, infrastructure and city planning.