COMPUTER AND FLUID MODELING OF EVACUATION

One of the most important areas in the field of ''Life Safety'' is the escape movement of individuals in emergency situations It is not yet possible to accurately model very complex psychological reactions, such as panic and confusion, but many parameters can be simulated, especially in the case of crowd movement. These basic parameters include speed fluctuations; crowd flow behaviour, travel distances and overall evacuation time, based upon certain assumptions. The evacuation characteristics of a building can be assessed in different ways. The statutory regulations (BSI, 1983) use general rules based upon the maximum crowd flow rates through specific exit route widths. These figures are based upon data produced in the 1950s (Hankin and Wright, 1958) that were intended primarily for application in building plans with fairly regular room/corridor plan configurations. This paper discusses two techniques for assessing crowd movement: fluid modelling and computer simulation. The fluid modelling is intended to provide a greater degree of understanding about the mechanism of crowd flow. The computer model SIMULEX combines spatial analysis with the escape movement of large numbers of individuals in a building, and is intended for eventual use as a design tool.