Abstract
In pedestrian dynamics, individual-based models serve to simulate the behavior of crowds so that evacuation times and crowd densities can be estimated or the efficiency of public transportation optimized. Often, train systems are investigated where seat choice may have a great impact on capacity utilization, especially when passengers get in each other’s way. Therefore, it is useful to reproduce passengers’ behavior inside trains. However, there is surprisingly little research on the subject. Do passengers distribute evenly as it is most often assumed in simulation models and as one would expect from a system that obeys the laws of thermodynamics? Conversely, is there a higher degree of order? To answer these questions, we collect data on seating behavior in Munich’s suburban trains and analyze it. Clear preferences are revealed that contradict the former assumption of a uniform distribution. We subsequently introduce a model that matches the probability distributions we observed. We demonstrate the applicability of our model and present a qualitative validation with a simulation example. The model’s implementation is part of the free and open-source Vadere simulation framework for pedestrian dynamics and thus available for further studies. The model can be used as one component in larger systems for the simulation of public transport.
Highlights
Pedestrian dynamics span a wide field of research from empirical studies to mathematical modeling [1]
Passengers try to maximize the distance to other passengers, which is in line with the safeguarding of personal space described in psychological studies [32,33] and in particular with the discomfort experienced when sitting close to others reported in [31]
A degree of order compared to the uniform distribution that is often assumed for convenience
Summary
Pedestrian dynamics span a wide field of research from empirical studies to mathematical modeling [1]. Passenger exchange times are estimated by having virtual pedestrians leave and board trains [10]. It is common practice to assume a uniform distribution of passengers in the train (see, e.g., [11]) or at least on the seats, partly for convenience but mostly because there is no accepted empirical evidence on the subject. Passengers sitting directly across each other cannot get up at the same time, while passengers sitting diagonally across can. This may cost precious seconds during extremely short inner city stops
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