Pedestrian Distribution Research Articles

Simulation of pedestrian evacuation based on an improved dynamic parameter model

An improved dynamic parameter model is presented based on cellular automata. The dynamic parameters, including direction parameter, empty parameter, and cognition parameter, are formulated to simplify tactically the process of making decisions for pedestrians. The improved model reflects the judgement of pedestrians on surrounding conditions and the action of choosing or decision. According to the two-dimensional cellular automaton Moore neighborhood we establish the pedestrian moving rule, and carry out corresponding simulations of pedestrian evacuation. The improved model considers the impact of pedestrian density near exits on the evacuation process. Simulated and experimental results demonstrate that the improvement makes sense due to the fact that except for the spatial distance to exits, people also choose an exit according to the pedestrian density around exits. The impact factors α, β, and γ are introduced to describe transition payoff, and their optimal values are determined through simulation. Moreover, the effects of pedestrian distribution, pedestrian density, and the width of exits on the evacuation time are discussed. The optimal exit layout, i.e., the optimal position and width, is offered. The comparison between the simulated results obtained with the improved model and that from a previous model and experiments indicates that the improved model can reproduce experimental results well. Thus, it has great significance for further study, and important instructional meaning for pedestrian evacuation so as to reduce the number of casualties.

Dynamic Simulation Assignment Model for Pedestrian Movements in Crowded Networks

The planning of crowded pedestrian facilities involves providing adequate capacity for all walkways, as well as designing effective schemes for crowd management. PEDSTREAM is a mesoscopic simulation-based dynamic trip assignment model for large-scale pedestrian networks. The model can represent temporospatial distribution of pedestrians and associated service levels over the network and can predict pedestrian responses to changes in design, operational conditions, and crowd management strategies. The model was used to develop a simulation platform for the Al-Mashaa'er corridor in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which served about 3 million pilgrims in a peak period that lasted several hours. Use of the platform is illustrated for the evaluation of design alternatives under future pedestrian demand levels and proposed crowd management strategies.

Simulation of Evacuation Processes in a Large Classroom Using an Improved Cellular Automaton Model for Pedestrian Dynamics

An improved cellular automaton model is proposed to simulate the evacuation processes in a large classroom by considering the different exit choosing and movement rules. The effects of the different influence coefficients on the evacuation time are investigated, and the typical characteristics of space-time dynamics are analyzed. The numerical simulations show that the model can better reproduce realistic evacuation phenomena, such as route-choice behaviors and bottleneck effects at the exits. Especially, when the distance to exit and the local density distribution of pedestrians are considered synthetically, the evacuation time can be reduced apparently, which is more reasonable and realistic.

Pedestrian flow dynamics in a lattice gas model coupled with an evolutionary game

This paper studies unidirectional pedestrian flow by using a lattice gas model with parallel update rules. Game theory is introduced to deal with conflicts that two or three pedestrians want to move into the same site. Pedestrians are either cooperators or defectors. The cooperators are gentle and the defectors are aggressive. Moreover, pedestrians could change their strategy. The fundamental diagram and the cooperator fraction at different system width W have been investigated in detail. It is found that a two-lane system exhibits a first-order phase transition while a multilane system does not. A microscopic mechanism behind the transition has been provided. Mean-field analysis is carried out to calculate the critical density of the transition as well as the probability of games at large value of W. The spatial distribution of pedestrians is investigated, which is found to be dependent (independent) on the initial cooperator fraction when W is small (large). Finally, the influence of the evolutionary game rule has been discussed.

Understanding the link between street connectivity, land use and pedestrian flows

The distribution of pedestrian movement by street segment in three areas in Atlanta is modeled in relation to measures of street connectivity and land use. Although land use accounts for the pronounced differences in average pedestrian volumes per area, the connectivity of the street network affects the distribution of pedestrians on a street-by-street basis within each of them. The measures of connectivity that are used describe the density of street connections and the extent to which streets are sinuous or aligned. This study enhances previous findings, particularly those using space syntax, by better controlling for the effects of land use as compared to the effects of street connectivity and network layout. Asserting the independent role of street network design is important given that streets act as the long-term framework within which land uses change over time. The measures of street connectivity are easy to implement on a GIS platform to support the evaluation and development of designs and regulatory frameworks that promote walking, whether it be in the interest of public health, in reducing automobile dependence or in supporting vibrant urban communities.

SIMULATION MODEL OF EVACUATION BEHAVIOR IN LARGE-SCALE EARTHQUAKE CONSIDERING VARIOUS STATES AND ATTRIBUTES OF PEOPLE IN LARGE CITY

Understanding human behavior, such as waiting, returning home, and evacuation, after a great earthquake is very critical in establishing detailed disaster prevention planning. In the present paper, we construct a simulation model to describe human behavior variable from physical damages such as spread of city-fire and street-blockage by collapsed buildings. The proposed model is applied to a highly dense built-up area of Tokyo using the database of the spatiotemporal distribution of railroad users, automobile users, and pedestrians. Using the model, we attempt to demonstrate some new findings for disaster prevention planning by examining evacuation plans and various condition settings in earthquake simulations.

Forecasting model for pedestrian distribution under emergency evacuation

Pedestrian distribution forecasting on the road network is developed to support the evacuation decision-making. The numbers of evacuees distributed on each road link are stochastic, uncertain and multi-dependent. Therefore, a Gaussian Bayesian networks (GBN) based forecasting model is presented, considering the pedestrian flow characteristics, optimization of evacuation route and evacuation decision-making. In the forecasting model, the route choice probabilities obtained by minimizing evacuation time are applied to correct the regression coefficients of GBN. Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the usefulness of this model. Research shows that this model not only reflects the complexity and dynamics of evacuation process but also performs an accurate forecasting on the time development of the pedestrian distributed in the evacuation space.

Self-Organized Pedestrian Crowd Dynamics: Experiments, Simulations, and Design Solutions

To test simulation models of pedestrian flows, we have performed experiments for corridors, bottleneck areas, and intersections. Our evaluations of video recordings show that the geometric boundary conditions are not only relevant for the capacity of the elements of pedestrian facilities, they also influence the time gap distribution of pedestrians, indicating the existence of self-organization phenomena. After calibration of suitable models, these findings can be used to improve design elements of pedestrian facilities and egress routes. It turns out that “obstacles” can stabilize flow patterns and make them more fluid. Moreover, intersecting flows can be optimized, utilizing the phenomenon of “stripe formation.” We also suggest increasing diameters of egress routes in stadia, theaters, and lecture halls to avoid long waiting times for people in the back, and shock waves due to impatience in cases of emergency evacuation. Moreover, zigzag-shaped geometries and columns can reduce the pressure in panicking crowds. The proposed design solutions are expected to increase the efficiency and safety of train stations, airport terminals, stadia, theaters, public buildings, and mass events in the future. As application examples we mention the evacuation of passenger ships and the simulation of pilgrim streams on the Jamarat bridge. Adaptive escape guidance systems, optimal way systems, and simulations of urban pedestrian flows are addressed as well.

スペースシンタックス理論に基づく市街地オープンスペースの特性評価

The purpose of this research is to analyze the configuration of open space in Japanese urban area by applying the space syntax theory, and to investigate the relationship between the structure of urban form and social conditions. 1) Configurations of open space can be quantitatively characterized by the space syntax theory. 2) Integration value correlates closely with pedestrians distribution. 3) Distribution of the building-use does not correlate to the integration value but it is a correlate of the pedestrian distribution. 4) The space syntax theory can estimate pedestrian flows and the building-use of future plans. It is concluded that analysis based on the space syntax theory is useful to support urban planning, because the theory can be applied to recognize the present situation and to evaluate the alternatives comparatively.

The Distribution of Signs and Pedestrians' Walking Behaviors in Underground Space—A Case Study of the Underground Shopping Center in Taegon, Korea—

The objective of this research was to investigate how the pedestrians use the information in underground space. Furthermore, it is to determine the conditions under which pedestrians utilized signs. Therefore, the pedestrian walking behavior was investigated in an underground shopping center in Taegon City, South Korea. First, the routes taken by the pedestrians was observed; and secondly, the signs observed were categorized as follows, pedestrian movement patterns, conditions under which signs were utilized, the location of signs, the relationship between different spaces, the heights of the signs, and the types of information communicated by the signs. From our analysis of pedestrian walking behavior at the Taegon underground shopping center, it was found that it is necessary to adjust the content and placement of information signs for pedestrian use, because the content of the guidance information and the use of this information vary from place to place. As shown by our subjects' walking behavior, a good connection between information signs is necessary to provide good directional information to pedestrians.

Modeling Pedestrian Dynamics in Montreal's Underground City

This study is an examination of the daily dynamics and system stability of pedestrian movement within an extensive, indoor walkway system. Temporal and spatial stability in the distribution of pedestrians was established using an efficient census-taking technique. It was found that the spatial distribution of pedestrians was weakly related to the integration of the Underground system. Centrally located links were marginally more attractive to pedestrians. Relatively minor differences in pedestrian distribution were discovered between weekday and weekend day. The absence of directional flows over time was also observed. The highly stable dynamic structure of the Underground is in direct relationship with a describable urban environment. This paper concludes with recommendations for research into other explanatory environmental factors.

マルコフ連鎖モデルと遺伝的アルゴリズムによる施設配置最適化

A new method is presented for optimization of facility layout. The pedestrian flow is modeled by using Markov chains, where the distribution of existence probability in the stationary state is calculated by solving an eigenvalue problem. In the proposed method, the pedestrian distribution in the path between every pair of the facilities is first considered, and the large generator matrix is condensed to a small one before carrying out the eigenvalue analysis to find the stationary state. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used for optimization, and a hybrid GA is presented for simultaneously optimizing the assignment and the locations of the facilities. In the examples, characteristics of the distribution of the utilities of the facitilies are discussed.

A Study on the Pedestrian Distribution in Urban Space

A Study on the Pedestrian Distribution in Urban Space

Urban Trip Distribution in Practice. II: Quick Response and Special Topics

The companion paper reviewed the state of the art of conventional analysis of urban passenger trip distribution. This part reviews the status of quick‐response analysis and special topics. The quick‐response analysis includes the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) simplified techniques, traffic‐count‐based models, a self‐calibrating gravity model, partial matrix techniques, heuristic methods, and facility forecasting techniques. The microcomputer implementation of quick‐response techniques is addressed. These quick‐response methods may require a partial or no base‐year trip matrix and they may be applicable to only base‐year analysis or to forecasting too. The special topics include geographic information system (GIS) applications, use of census data, freeway trip distribution, pedestrian trip distribution, other trip‐distribution models, and theoretical features. These papers are part of a series being produced by the Planning Committee of the Urban Transportation Division (UTD) of ASC...

Comparative Analysis and Pedestrian Simulation Evaluation on Emergency Evacuation Test Methods for Urban Rail Transit Stations

The emergency evacuation test method of rail transit station not only affects the operation safety of the station, but it also has significant influence on the scale and cost of the station. A reasonable test method should guarantee both the safety of evacuation and that the investment is neither excessive nor too conservative. The paper compares and analyzes the differences of the existing emergency evacuation test methods of rail stations in China and other regions on the evacuation load, evacuation time calculation and the capacity of egress components, etc. Based on the field survey analysis, the desired velocity distribution of pedestrians in various station facilities and the capacity of egress components have been obtained, and then the parameters of pedestrian simulation tool were calibrated. By selecting a station for the case study, an evacuation simulation model has been established, where five evacuation scenarios have been set according to different specifications and the simulation results have been carefully analyzed. Through analyzing the simulation results, some modification proposals of the current emergency evacuation test method in the design manual have been considered, including taking into account the section passenger volume, walking time on escalators and stairs of the platform, and the condition in which the escalator most critical to evacuation should be considered as out of service.