Enhanced Multi-parameterized Cellular Automaton Model for Crowd Evacuation: The Case of a University Building

This work investigates the impact of interactions among individuals and their environment during evacuations in a University Building. The proposed CA-based model aims at simplifying the simulation process and at accomplishing successful modeling of evacuation processes of moderate density. Thus, the model is effectively parameterised by incorporating variable speeds, acceleration, massive physical pressure onto individuals, adoption and efficient location of leading persons. Remarkable features that characterise crowd evacuation are prominent; transition from uncoordinated to coordinated movement due to common purpose, arching in front of exits, herding behavior. Finally, the validation of the model includes further qualitative and quantitative analysis, which is based on the comparison of the flow-density and speed-density response of the model with corresponding literature derived distributions.