Hand-Calculation Methods for Evacuation Calculation—Last Chance for an Old-Fashioned Approach or a Real Alternative to Microscopic Simulation Tools?

Abstract

Evaluation and optimization of emergency systems can be done by means of several engineering methods, which are entirely different: macroscopic hydraulic models, which can be calculated by hand (the so called ``Hand-calculation Methods''), and microscopic computer simulation methods. Both allow forecasting of evacuation-times for various settings. The authors compare results of four commercial software tools (ASERI, buildingEXODUS, PedGo, Simulex) and some macroscopic hydraulic models with real evacuation trials in high-rise buildings. Furthermore a theoretical research of a school building is shown.