Calibration of Fundamental Flow Model for Pedestrian Sidewalks in Urban Areas

Abstract

Walking is one of the major modes of transportation, but pedestrian facilities are often neglected or given with the least preference when compared with the motor vehicles by the town planners and engineers for the safety and comfort of pedestrians, it is important to design and operate the pedestrian facilities like sidewalks, walkways, and crosswalks. Hence, a scientific study is essential to understand the parameters affecting pedestrian flow and to mitigate the same to provide a safe, comfortable, and convenient environment for pedestrians along sidewalks. This research studies the macroscopic stream model of pedestrian movement along sidewalks and develops a new model consisting of these macroscopic parameters (speed, flow, and density) for Indian scenario. Some of the macroscopic models discussed in this study are the Greenshield’s macroscopic model, Greenberg Logarithmic model, and Underwood Exponential model. Based on these models, the maximum free-flow speeds and jam densities are calculated and the fundamental graphs are plotted based on their relationships between parameters. R software was used to analyze and determine the best fit statistical distribution for the observed pedestrian data for the selected sidewalk locations. Using the best fit distribution, based on pedestrian speed and density, a model is being generated for predicting the pedestrian flow.