Condensed Matter, abstract cond-mat/9805074 From: Dirk Helbing [view email] Date (v1): Wed, 6 May 1998 16:48:14 GMT (64kb) Date (revised v2): Thu, 7 May 1998 10:03:43 GMT (64kb) Computer Simulations of Pedestrian Dynamics and Trail Formation Authors: D. Helbing, P. Molnar, F. Schweitzer Comments: For related work see this http URL Subj-class: Statistical Mechanics; Pattern Formation and Solitons Journal-ref: Pages 229-234 in: Evolution of Natural Structures (Sonderforschungsbereich 230, Stuttgart, 1994) A simulation model for the dynamic behaviour of pedestrian crowds is mathematically formulated in terms of a social force model, that means, pedestrians behave in a way as if they would be subject to an acceleration force and to repulsive forces describing the reaction to borders and other pedestrians. The computational simulations presented yield many realistic results that can be compared with video films of pedestrian crowds. Especially, they show the self-organization of collective behavioural patterns. By assuming that pedestrians tend to choose routes that are frequently taken the above model can be extended to an active walker model of trail formation. The topological structure of the evolving trail network will depend on the disadvantage of building new trails and the durability of existing trails. Computer simulations of trail formation indicate to be a valuable tool for designing systems of ways which satisfy the needs of pedestrians best. An example is given for a non-directed trail network. Full-text: PostScript, PDF, or Other formats References and citations for this submission: CiteBase (autonomous citation navigation and analysis) Which authors of this paper are endorsers? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Links to: arXiv, cond-mat, /find, /abs (-/+), /9805, ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condensed Matter, abstract cond-mat/9806097 From: Dirk Helbing [view email] Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 09:55:19 GMT (405kb) Active Walker Model for the Formation of Human and Animal Trail Systems Authors: Dirk Helbing, Frank Schweitzer, Joachim Keltsch, Peter Molnar Comments: For related work see this http URL and this http URL and this http URL Subj-class: Statistical Mechanics; Pattern Formation and Solitons Journal-ref: Physical Review E 56, 2527-2539 (1997) Active walker models have recently proved their great value for describing the formation of clusters, periodic patterns, and spiral waves as well as the development of rivers, dielectric breakdown patterns, and many other structures. It is shown that they also allow to simulate the formation of trail systems by pedestrians and ants, yielding a better understanding of human and animal behavior. A comparison with empirical material shows a good agreement between model and reality. Our trail formation model includes an equation of motion, an equation for environmental changes, and an orientation relation. It contains some model functions, which are specified according to the characteristics of the considered animals or pedestrians. Not only the kind of environmental changes differs: Whereas pedestrians leave footprints on the ground, ants produce chemical markings for their orientation. Nevertheless, it is more important that pedestrians steer towards a certain destination, while ants usually find their food sources by chance, i.e. they reach their destination in a stochastic way. As a consequence, the typical structure of the evolving trail systems depends on the respective species. Some ant species produce a dendritic trail system, whereas pedestrians generate a minimal detour system. The trail formation model can be used as a tool for the optimization of pedestrian facilities: It allows urban planners to design convenient way systems which actually meet the route choice habits of pedestrians. Full-text: PostScript, PDF, or Other formats References and citations for this submission: CiteBase (autonomous citation navigation and analysis) Which authors of this paper are endorsers? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Links to: arXiv, cond-mat, /find, /abs (-/+), /9806, ?