Vulnerable People in Microscopic Evacuation Modelling

Abstract

Computational evacuation modelling as a part of approval procedures or design processes is sometimes concerned with vulnerable people requiring special attention. This vulnerability can be based on external circumstances or on individual characteristics. Microscopic methods are well suited to deal with such specific determinants by their ability to model individual movement and certain behavioural aspects. By reference to case studies the possibilities of up-to-date individual evacuation models to cover egress scenarios including vulnerable people are discussed. The selected examples demonstrate that the evacuation of vulnerable people often depends more on the modelling of individual behaviour rather than on a very detailed description of individual characteristics. Group formation and the guidance or assistance of other people will have a strong impact on the evacuation process and thus require special modelling techniques and respective calibration and validation efforts guided by empirical studies.