A mesoscopic model for large-scale simulation of pedestrian dynamics. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tordeux, Antoine; Lämmel, Gregor; Hänseler, Flurin S.; Steffen, Bernhard
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 93(2018)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Pedestrian dynamics -- Mesoscopic model -- Large-scale simulation; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2018.05.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A mesoscopic model is proposed for large-scale simulation of pedestrian dynamics. The model is intrinsically able to capture population heterogeneity and stochasticity. Various key phenomena of pedestrian flow, such as self-organization, can be reproduced. The model is carefully calibrated and validated on real data. Abstract: A mesoscopic pedestrian model is proposed, considering pedestrians as individuals and describing their movement by means of aggregate density-flow relationships. The model builds on a stochastic process, describing transition rates among adjacent sites on a lattice. Each lattice can contain several pedestrians. The approach is minimal and fast to simulate, and, by construction, capable of capturing population heterogeneity as well as variability in walking behaviour and en-route path choice. The model is more efficient than microscopic models, and potentially more accurate than macroscopic ones. We calibrate and validate the model using real data and carry out several numerical experiments to present its key properties and possible applications for simulation of large-scale scenarios.