Information guiding effect of Evacuation Assistants in a two-channel segregation process using Multi-Information Communication Field Model

Abstract

In the present work, a Multi-Information Communication Field Model is proposed, which accurately describes the processes for which an Evacuation Assistant disseminates the information of each exit route using the strategy and evacuees receive, cognize and react to the multi-information. The information’s influence and Evacuation Assistant’s dynamic adjustment guiding strategy according to the crowd’s exit selection are highlighted. The effectiveness of the Evacuation Assistant’s guiding strategy and its influence factors, such as Evacuation Assistant’s sensing radius, evacuees’ prior exit preference and cognitive inertia, are considered and fully discussed. The simulations of crowd’s segregation process were performed in a T-shaped channel scenario and the conclusions indicated that the Evacuation Assistant’s guiding effect will be insufficient, optimum, or excessive for different sensing radius values, a larger sensing radius is not necessarily better, and the appropriate sensing radius could help the Evacuation Assistant achieve the segregation target. When the segregation target, the speed of the evacuees, and the evacuees’ exit preference vary, the sensing range should be changed accordingly. And the optimal sensing radius and its changing law were presented as well.