A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations

In recent years, vulnerable populations have become the main targets of casualties in many building fire accidents. It is of great significance to study the behavioral patterns of vulnerable populations during emergency evacuation and to design specialized strategies conducive to the evacuation of v...

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Main Authors: Yu Qiao, Qingzhao Li, Qi Liu, Jinghong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Maximum Academic Press 2024-01-01
Series:Emergency Management Science and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/emst-0024-0013
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author Yu Qiao
Qingzhao Li
Qi Liu
Jinghong Wang
author_facet Yu Qiao
Qingzhao Li
Qi Liu
Jinghong Wang
author_sort Yu Qiao
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, vulnerable populations have become the main targets of casualties in many building fire accidents. It is of great significance to study the behavioral patterns of vulnerable populations during emergency evacuation and to design specialized strategies conducive to the evacuation of vulnerable populations to improve evacuation efficiency and reduce casualties. In this paper, simulations are carried out using AnyLogic based on a social force model to explore the impact of dedicated exits in public places on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. A model of a normal room with three exits was created in which pedestrians were divided into two categories: normal and vulnerable populations with different evacuation speeds and footprint sizes. Simulation results show that dedicating middle exits reduces evacuation time in most cases while dedicating side exits significantly increases evacuation time. Middle exits as dedicated exits can balance the evacuation speed of vulnerable and normal populations, and improve the overall evacuation efficiency of vulnerable populations. Calculating the balance analysis index OPS for building evacuation, the results show that the balance of exits is the key to the evacuation time, and the closer the OPS value is to 0 the better the evacuation balance, which leads to a shorter evacuation time. This paper illustrates the impact of dedicated exits on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. Also, it provides a basis for the need for dedicated exits in different situations by calculating OPS values.
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spelling doaj-art-2aeebe56254848b89a324b378c7dabd22025-08-20T02:12:33ZengMaximum Academic PressEmergency Management Science and Technology2832-448X2024-01-014111210.48130/emst-0024-0013emst-0024-0013A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populationsYu Qiao0Qingzhao Li1Qi Liu2Jinghong Wang3Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Control, College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Control, College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Control, College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Control, College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, ChinaIn recent years, vulnerable populations have become the main targets of casualties in many building fire accidents. It is of great significance to study the behavioral patterns of vulnerable populations during emergency evacuation and to design specialized strategies conducive to the evacuation of vulnerable populations to improve evacuation efficiency and reduce casualties. In this paper, simulations are carried out using AnyLogic based on a social force model to explore the impact of dedicated exits in public places on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. A model of a normal room with three exits was created in which pedestrians were divided into two categories: normal and vulnerable populations with different evacuation speeds and footprint sizes. Simulation results show that dedicating middle exits reduces evacuation time in most cases while dedicating side exits significantly increases evacuation time. Middle exits as dedicated exits can balance the evacuation speed of vulnerable and normal populations, and improve the overall evacuation efficiency of vulnerable populations. Calculating the balance analysis index OPS for building evacuation, the results show that the balance of exits is the key to the evacuation time, and the closer the OPS value is to 0 the better the evacuation balance, which leads to a shorter evacuation time. This paper illustrates the impact of dedicated exits on the evacuation of vulnerable populations. Also, it provides a basis for the need for dedicated exits in different situations by calculating OPS values.https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/emst-0024-0013vulnerable crowd evacuationdedicated exitssocial force modelbalance of exits
spellingShingle Yu Qiao
Qingzhao Li
Qi Liu
Jinghong Wang
A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
Emergency Management Science and Technology
vulnerable crowd evacuation
dedicated exits
social force model
balance of exits
title A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
title_full A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
title_fullStr A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
title_full_unstemmed A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
title_short A simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
title_sort simulation study of the influence of dedicated building exits on the evacuation patterns of vulnerable populations
topic vulnerable crowd evacuation
dedicated exits
social force model
balance of exits
url https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/emst-0024-0013
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