Crowd Management of Honda Celebration of Light Using Agent-based Modelling and Simulation

Abstract

This paper outlines a crowd egress simulation system that models the interactions of police and large crowds. Police are often deployed during large events for crowd management and to facilitate the safe and efficient departure of the crowd. Police and crowd members are represented in the system using agent-based modelling and simulation. Crowd members in the simulation either attempt to meet up with members of their social group or attempt to exit by public transit, while the police promote crowd movement by directing the crowd towards egress routes. This simulation system was used to model a crowd leaving the Honda Celebration of Light in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Several recommendations for crowd management were ascertained from comparing the results of different crowd and police management scenarios.