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Open AccessArticle
Development of Representative Urban Driving Cycles for Congested Traffic Conditions in Guayaquil Using Real-Time OBD-II Data and Weighted Statistical Methods
by
Roberto López-Chila
Roberto López-Chila
Roberto David López Chila is an electronic engineer with a specialization in computational systems [...]
Roberto David López Chila is an electronic engineer with a specialization in computational systems from Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Ecuador, where he also obtained a master's degree in business administration. With extensive experience in both the academic and corporate sectors, he has worked as a programmer, technical specialist, and manager in various companies before dedicating himself to higher education. Since 2010, he has been a professor at Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, where he currently serves as Head of the Basic Sciences Department. His research focuses on innovative teaching methodologies, digital learning tools, and the integration of technology in education. He has published multiple scientific articles in international journals and conferences. Additionally, he is a member of the Educational Innovation Group GIE-TICEA and has been recognized for his outstanding scientific production indexed in Scopus.
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,
Henry Abad-Reyna
Henry Abad-Reyna
,
Joao Morocho-Cajas
Joao Morocho-Cajas
and
Pablo Fierro-Jimenez
Pablo Fierro-Jimenez
GIETICEA and GMOVINT Research Groups, Automotive Engineering Career, Politecnica Salesiana University, Guayaquil 090109, Ecuador
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vehicles 2025, 7(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles7030095 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 August 2025
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Revised: 1 September 2025
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Accepted: 2 September 2025
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Published: 6 September 2025
Abstract
Standardized driving cycles such as the FTP-75 fail to represent traffic conditions in cities like Guayaquil, where high congestion and varied driving behaviors are not captured by external models. This study aimed to develop representative driving cycles for the city’s most congested urban routes, covering the north, south, center, and west zones. Using the direct method, real-world trips were conducted with an M1-category vehicle equipped with an OBDLINK MX+ device, allowing real-time data collection. Driving data were processed through OBDWIZ software Version 4.30.1 and statistically analyzed using Minitab. From pilot tests, the appropriate sample size was estimated, and normality tests were applied to determine the correct measures of central tendency. The final representative cycles were constructed using a weighting criteria method. The results provided quantified evidence of variations in average speed, idle time, and acceleration patterns across the routes, which were transformed into representative driving cycles. These cycles provide a more accurate basis for emission modeling, vehicle certification, and transport policy design in congested cities such as Guayaquil, and this is the applied impact that is highlighted in our contribution. Furthermore, the developed cycles provide a foundation for future research on emission modeling and the design of sustainable transport strategies in Latin American cities.
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MDPI and ACS Style
López-Chila, R.; Abad-Reyna, H.; Morocho-Cajas, J.; Fierro-Jimenez, P.
Development of Representative Urban Driving Cycles for Congested Traffic Conditions in Guayaquil Using Real-Time OBD-II Data and Weighted Statistical Methods. Vehicles 2025, 7, 95.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles7030095
AMA Style
López-Chila R, Abad-Reyna H, Morocho-Cajas J, Fierro-Jimenez P.
Development of Representative Urban Driving Cycles for Congested Traffic Conditions in Guayaquil Using Real-Time OBD-II Data and Weighted Statistical Methods. Vehicles. 2025; 7(3):95.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles7030095
Chicago/Turabian Style
López-Chila, Roberto, Henry Abad-Reyna, Joao Morocho-Cajas, and Pablo Fierro-Jimenez.
2025. "Development of Representative Urban Driving Cycles for Congested Traffic Conditions in Guayaquil Using Real-Time OBD-II Data and Weighted Statistical Methods" Vehicles 7, no. 3: 95.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles7030095
APA Style
López-Chila, R., Abad-Reyna, H., Morocho-Cajas, J., & Fierro-Jimenez, P.
(2025). Development of Representative Urban Driving Cycles for Congested Traffic Conditions in Guayaquil Using Real-Time OBD-II Data and Weighted Statistical Methods. Vehicles, 7(3), 95.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles7030095
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