Evacuation Dynamics: Empirical Results, Modeling and Applications

Abstract

This extensive review was written for the ``Encyclopedia of Complexity and System Science'' (Springer, 2008) and addresses a broad audience ranging from engineers to applied mathematicians, computer scientists and physicists. It provides an extensive overview of various aspects of pedestrian dynamics, focussing on evacuation processes. First the current status of empirical results is critically reviewed as it forms the basis for the calibration of models needed for quantitative predictions. Then various modeling approaches are discussed, focussing on cellular automata models. Finally, some specific applications to safety analysis in public buildings or public transport are presented.