Egress Simulation Incorporating Social Relationships by Using Scalar Field Method

Abstract:

Research on human evacuation is heavily dependent on simulation. However, many of the models developed to date lack realism because of their inability to adequately simulate social relationships. In order to create a better tool for studying human response during evacuation, an agent-based model is proposed based upon a new technique termed Scalar Field Method (SFM). Drawing on analogy to a charged particle in an electromagnetic field, both human will and social relationships are converted into virtual potential energies (VPEs) to simulate the interactions that occur between an agent and its surrounding entities. Each agent has stochastic characteristics, is independent and makes autonomous decisions on behavior by minimizing the VPE. Preliminary tests show the ability of the new model to mimic reasonable evacuation behavior, and its potential for exploring the significance of social relationships during egress.

References

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