PEDESTRIAN FLOW MODELLING - MEETING THE USER'S NEEDS

摘要

Pedestrian flow modelling is a computer-based technique used to represent and predict pedestrian movement in the built environment. The technique has been used by the rail industry for over 15 years to highlight crowd flow bottlenecks in the assessment of safety at stations, platform train dwell times and the options for greater use of retail space in station concourses. Whilst offering great potential benefits, in some instances clients have commented that the output did not meet their requirements; the process was not cost effective; or the findings were limited by capabilities of the modelling package used. This paper outlines a suggested process for the use of pedestrian flow modelling. The requirements for each stage in the process are described, sub-divided into: System Goals, Domain Knowledge and Specification Requirements. This process and the associated requirements are intended to support suppliers and clients in the area of station design and operations management. This work is an output from a Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) project, undertaken to research and assess the tools available for crowd management at stations.