Evaluación de la consistencia en el trazado geométrico de 2 vías rurales en terrenos montañosos de la Provincia del Azuay

Abstract

This research evaluates the consistency of the geometric design of two rural roads in the parish of Ricaurte, province of Azuay, by analyzing operating speeds to identify inconsistencies that affect road safety and propose improvements. In Ecuador, traffic accidents on rural roads are associated with a mismatch between the design speed and the actual operating speed, which leads to abrupt changes in driving behavior and increases the risk of accidents. The justification for this study is based on the need to optimize road infrastructure to reduce accidents and ensure safe and efficient circulation. The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, using topographic surveys with RTK, geometric reconstruction in AutoCAD Civil 3D, and field speed measurements at the center of curves. The operating speed was determined based on the routes taken in the study sections and compared with the established design speed, following the criteria proposed by Lamm to evaluate the consistency of the geometric layout. The Bibin Road section features a geometric design that aligns with drivers' expectations due to the good consistency of the road. In contrast, the Ricaurte-Llacao road lacks a good geometric design since there are minimal radii which causes drivers to make changes in their operating speed due to the poor consistency of the road.