An optimal design method of emergency evacuation space in the high-density community after earthquake based on evacuation simulation

Emergency evacuation planning in high-density communities is an important measure to improve the safety resilience of community. This study presents an optimal design method of emergency evacuation space in high-density community based on multi-agent simulation and multi-objective optimization models. The influence of community building debris caused by earthquake on evacuation passageway was analyzed. The properties of residents in the community and their characteristics of psycho-behaviors after earthquake were clarified. A simulation model for emergency evacuation in the high-density communities considering the changes of community environment and psychological-behavioral characteristics of residents was established. On the basis of evacuation simulation analysis, an optimal design method of emergency evacuation space in the high-density communities based on time satisfaction was proposed. Finally, the proposed method was applied into the two old communities, that is, Healthy West Village and Healthy New Village communities in Rugao City, to simulate and analyze the effects of factors such as building debris, psychological panic and cooperative behaviors on the evacuation process of the communities, and the evacuation organization and shelter space in communities were optimized. In view of organized evacuation of community residential buildings, the responsibility scope of emergency shelters was determined, and its scientific rationality was verified by emergency evacuation simulation.