Revisiting the paper ”Simulating dynamical features of escape panic”: What have we learnt since then?

Abstract

The paper ”Simulating dynamical features of escape panic” by Helbing, Farkas, and Vicsek, published over two decades ago in Nature, has left an indelible mark on the field of crowd dynamics. With nearly 3,000 citations to date, according to the Web of Science records, and significant influence, it has shaped the crowd dynamics field. This analysis investigates the overall influence of this paper through a variety of indicators, mapping its reach across research areas. The intellectual foundation of the paper is traced, examining the references cited. The terminological impact is also explored, showing how the paper made use of terms like ”panic” and ”herding”. Moreover, the alignment of the assumptions of the paper with empirical evidence is discussed, finding discrepancies in key assertions about panic behaviour. The numerical simulations of the paper and observations have significantly influenced the field, such as for the case of the ”faster-is-slower” phenomenon. The paper remains a key pillar in crowd dynamics, nevertheless, we advocate for a new course of the field shifting away from the terminology adopted in the paper and focusing more on empirical evidence.