A STUDY OF SIMULATION MODEL FOR PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT WITH QUEUING

Abstract

The objective of this study is the development of a computer simulation model for pedestrian movement in architectural and urban space. It is through animation that the movement of each pedestrian in the plan is visualed in this model. Consequently, architects and designers can easily find and understand the problems in their design projects. The movement of each pedestrian is simulated by the motion of a magnetized object in a magnetic field. Positive magnetic pole is given to each pedestrian and obstacles, such as walls and columns. Negative magnetic pole is located at the goal of pedestrians. Each pedestrian moves to his goal by the attractive force caused by the negative magnetic pole at his goal, avoiding collisions with other pedestrians and obstacles by repulsive forces caused by the positive magnetic poles. The effectiveness of the simulation model is shown by the following two kinds of simulation examples. (1) Evacuation from an office building: In this model pedestrians walk along the route from each starting point to the exit in case of evacuation. The example shows the places where stagnation and heavy congestion occur, and designers can see if the evacuation routes are appropriate: (2) Movement of pedestrians in queue spaces: Three types of queuing behavior is classified in this model: movement in front of counters, movement passing through ratches, and movement of getting on and off in elevator halls. Simulation examples in a railway station and in a main floor of a resort hotel are shown where several kinds of queue spaces are included and complicated movement of hundreds of pedestrians occur.