Buses form the basis of the public transport system in many cities of the world: improvements to the operation of bus systems could therefore provide useful benefits in a variety of circumstances. In some cases (notably in Brazil) enhancements to the bus system have been achieved through the design of infrastructure and operations.
This study examines both the nature of these enhancements to bus systems and the methods by which they were achieved, in order to facilitate the use of such techniques to improve bus systems elsewhere. Detailed discussions with engineers responsible for existing Brazilian high capacity bus systems reveal how these were conceived and put into operation. In addition, they indicate important variables and models (existing or new) that could be used during this process.
In order to distinguish between results obtained on the basis of good quality data and those depending on data of poorer quality, existing artificial intelligence methods are investigated for their performance with poor quality data. These methods may provide some interpretative element, but they do not appear to be appropriate for the representation of the engineer's ability to interpret data. In order to include such assessments, a model is presented which represents the use by the engineer of opinion and judgement in the decision process.
The design methodology for high capacity bus systems is represented in a computer model and validated with data representing the situation in a corridor before the implementation of a high capacity bus system. The resulting design is considered to be similar to the design actually implemented. The model is also tested in two other situations where the constraints are more severe, in Peni and in London. The results suggest that it is not possible to obtain a satisfactory design for a high capacity bus system in these corridors
