Claudio Feliciani

Phenomenological description of deadlock formation in pedestrian bidirectional flow based on empirical observation

This article presents an empirical investigation for the phenomenon of deadlock formation by analyzing a pedestrian bidirectional flow of a subway station in central Tokyo. Using video images obtained from cameras placed in the station during morning rush hour, the in- and outflow (making up the total flow) resulting in a test section considered were computed. With the use of additional information such as train arrival times, test section density and its flow ratio, the formation of different complex crowd phenomena is analyzed. The information provided by the unsteady flow curves allowed a qualitative and quantitative distinction between free flow, congested flow and deadlock formation. This latter phenomenon could be easily identified based on the shape of the total outflow showing a double peak. Based on the information gained, a flow regime diagram using flow and counter-flow values to distinguish between different flow regimes in bidirectional flow has been derived. In this regard, flow ratio was confirmed as being a relevant parameter to describe bidirectional flow, providing experimental evidence that total flow alone can be misleading. Qualitative and quantitative results obtained in the present study were finally compared with previous literature showing good agreement.

Pedestrians rotation measurement in bidirectional streams

The 8th International Conference on Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics (PED 2016) has been held on October 17–21, 2016 in Hefei, China. PED 2016 Conference offered an opportunity for professionals and scientists with different backgrounds to present and discuss new findings and applications in the field of pedestrian and evacuation dynamics and associated human behavior. The conference aims to provide suggestions for policy makers, planners, designers and emergency management to solve real world problems. Conference topics included, but was not limited to: Pedestrian movement mechanisms Pedestrian behavior during disasters: theories, analysis, conclusions Evacuation and pedestrian data collection from experiments and real events Data collection techniques Model development Large-scale and transport modeling methods Model validation/calibration Public transport transfer terminals Regional evacuation Operational management of highly populated facilities Engineering guidance Citation : Please cite the full conference proceedings as follows: Song, W., Ma, J., Fu, L.; Proceedings of Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2016, Collective Dynamics, A11, 1-618 (2016). DOI 10.17815/CD.2016.11 Single articles inside the proceedings should be cited as: Authors; Title . In: Proceedings of Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2016, Collective Dynamics, pages (2016) Example: Dambalmath, P., Muhamad, B., Haug, E., Lohner, R.; Fundamental Diagrams for Specific Very High Density Crowds . In: Proceedings of Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2016, Collective Dynamics, 6-11 (2016)

Study on the Efficacy of Crowd Control and Information Provision Through a Simple Cellular Automata Model

This study presents a simple Cellular Automata model which allows to estimate the combined effect of crowd control and information provision on pedestrian dynamics. We assume the case of a closed loop consisting of two lanes connected in only two points where pedestrians are allowed to move from the inner to the outer loop and in the opposite direction. Both lanes are virtually divided by a wall which does not allow to visually inspect the other side except on the locations connecting them. To investigate the effect of information provision we assume that a given number of pedestrians have information on the speed in both lanes. In addition, we assume that lane changing locations are guarded by security staff which can give orders to the crowd on which lane to choose. However, only a given number of pedestrians are compliant and will obey to the orders. Initial settings for the simulation have been set so that free flow in both lanes is obtained only when the number of lane changes is limited and density is equal in both inner and outer loops. Results show that crowd control strategy, compliance ratio and information provision have a clear impact on the overall group speed. The combined analysis of all variables showed that efficient information provision is the most reliable method to ensure an adequate speed (and flow) even when crowd control fails or when compliance is low.

Collision Avoidance Dynamics Among Heterogeneous Agents: The Case of Pedestrian/Vehicle Interactions

The dynamics of agent-based models and systems provides a framework to face complex issues related to the management of future cities, such as transportation and mobility. Once validated against empirical data, the use of agent-based simulations allows to envision and analyse complex phenomena, not directly accessible from the real world, in a predictive and explanatory scheme. In this paper, we apply this paradigm by proposing an agent-based simulation system focused on pedestrian/vehicle interactions at non-signalized intersections. The model has been designed based on the results gathered by means of an observation, executed at a non-signalized intersection characterized by a relevant number of pedestrian-car accidents in the past years. Manual video-tracking analyses showed that the interactions between pedestrians and vehicles at the zebra cross are generally composed of three phases: (i) the pedestrian freely walks on the side-walk approaching the zebra; (ii) at the proximity of the curb, he/she slows down to evaluate the safety gap from approaching cars to cross, possibly yielding to let the car pass (appraising); (iii) the pedestrian starts crossing. The overall heterogeneous system is composed of two types of agents (i.e. vehicle and pedestrian agents), defining the subjects of the interactions under investigation. The system is used to reproduce the observed traffic conditions and analyse the potential effects of overloading the system on comfort and safety of road users.

An Enhanced Cellular Automata Sub-mesh Model to Study High-Density Pedestrian Crowds

This study presents an alternative mesh system for the floor-field Cellular Automata model which allows reproducing relevant phenomena observed in high density crowds. Sub-mesh positions are created at the edges and at the corners of adjacent cells to increase the mobility in dense crowds. Special rules are introduced to constrain the use of those additional positions and recreate some behavioral features observed in reality. The model was calibrated and validated using empirical data showing good agreement, while similar results could not be obtained using the standard mesh. Finally it was shown that the introduction of the corner sub-mesh position enhances the quality of the results in case of diagonal motion. The model presented here may allow a more accurate investigation of the crowd accidents occurred in the past and prevent a potential re-occurrence in the future.