Modeling pedestrian space in complex building for efficient pedestrian traffic simulation

• Published in: Automation in construction Vol. 30; pp. 25 - 36
• Main Authors: Ma, J., Lo, S.M., Song, W.G., Wang, W.L., Zhang, J., Liao, G.X.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Collision avoidance; Comfort; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Computer simulation; Construction; Exact sciences and technology; Geographic Information System (GIS); Geographic information systems; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Intermediate destination; Pedestrian traffic; Pedestrians; Platforms; Road transportation and traffic; Road types (roads, freeways, express ways, etc.); Route choice; Safety; Satellite navigation systems; Structural analysis. Stresses; Transportation infrastructure; Pedestrian traffic; Intermediate destination; Geographic Information System (GIS); Collision avoidance; Route choice; Validation; Choice; Buildings; Crowd; Modeling; Pedestrian zone; Case study; Traffic flow; Geographic information system; Traffic safety; Simulation model; Route
• ISSN: 0926-5805; 1872-7891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2012.11.032

The pedestrians' safety and comfort levels within complex buildings have been attracting more and more attentions. To evaluate the safety and comfort performance of these built environments, a pedestrian space analysis model is incorporated with an agent-based pedestrian model on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Firstly, a bi-layer mesh method is proposed to divide the pedestrian space in complex building into cells. Secondly, the route from an origin to the destination is identified by considering the information of obstacles, entry and exit. After these procedures, a pedestrian space layer on GIS platform is constructed for further simulation. With this layer, pedestrians in the building can make fast decisions on where to move and finally move towards the destination step by step. As case studies, two different designs of train platform and a complex building have been modeled to evaluate the pedestrian flow patterns in them. The results indicated that the simulation platform on GIS can serve as a useful tool to evaluate pedestrian movement in transportation facilities. ► A bi-layer mesh method is proposed to modeling pedestrian space in complex buildings. ► An intermediate destination determination method as a route choice model is proposed. ► An agent-based pedestrian modeling platform on GIS is developed. ► Crowd control efficiencies of train platforms with different designs are investigated.