Diseño metodológico para el desarrollo y evaluación de ciclos de conducción de la Troncal 1 del sistema BRT DE Guayaquil mediante análisis segmentado de trayectorias

Abstract

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are a key solution for improving urban mobility and optimizing the efficiency of public transportation in high-demand cities. In this study, a representative driving cycle was developed and evaluated for Trunk Line 1 of the Guayaquil BRT system, using a segmented trajectory analysis based on real-world operational data. The research was conducted using a quantitative, descriptive, and observational approach, applying a factorial design that considered the direction of the route, the time of day, and the type of day. Twelve experimental trips recorded using GPS devices with a minimum sampling frequency of 1 Hz were analyzed; based on this data, dynamic variables such as average speed, maximum speed, idling time, accelerations, and decelerations were evaluated. Through a segmentation process, the analysis revealed significant operational differences among six segments of the trunk line, identifying sections with greater stability and others with greater dynamic severity, associated with congestion and a high frequency of stops. As a result, the cycle obtained has a total duration of 1,800 seconds, an average speed of 26.17 km/h, and a maximum speed of 62.25 km/h, with a stop time accounting for 18.78% of the total route, reflecting typical urban operating conditions. In addition, a comparison was made with the FTP-75 standard cycle, showing that the local representative cycle exhibits greater temporal variability and a non-uniform distribution of stops, characteristic of the actual operation of the BRT system. In conclusion, although both cycles present comparable maximum speed ranges and idling percentages, the results confirm that the FTP-75 does not adequately reproduce the actual operating conditions of Troncal 1; therefore, the developed cycle constitutes an appropriate technical tool for evaluating operational, energy, and environmental performance under actual local conditions.