Shared Space Modeling Based on Social Forces and Distance Potential Field

Abstract

Urban design is moving towards space sharing in order to increase the community texture and safety of street surroundings. However, there is a need for a simulation tool capable of representing future shared space schemes to help judging the designs under which shared space design is a suitable alternative to traditional street designs. This paper presents a microscopic mathematical model that is used a traffic simulation tool capable to represent main behaviors of pedestrians and cars in any shared space layout. This is achieved by generating a route map which helps agents to find the shortest path towards their target destinations on the strategic level. On the operational level, the Social Force Model (SFM) is used and extended for a mixed traffic to produce feasible trajectories. The trajectory results are presented to give a face-validation of the functionality of the shared space simulation model.