Self-Organized Criticality Theory and its Potential Application in High Density Pedestrian Evacuation Simulation in Public Buildings

Abstract

Many important nature evolution phenomena can be explained with Self-organized criticality (SOC) theory. SOC theory explains the tendency of large dissipative systems to drive themselves into a scale-invariant critical state without parameter adjustment. These phenomena are of crucial importance because fractal objects displaying SOC are found. This paper analyzes the characteristics of SOC theory, and then introduces basic principles of SOC theory in one-dimension model. Based on the self-organized criticality owned by the high-density pedestrian evacuation and even the trample event, this paper proposes the potential applications of SOC theory to explain the various phenomena in pedestrian evacuation from public buildings in unconventional emergencies.