Simulation-based optimization of inner layout of a theater considering the effect of pedestrians*

Abstract

We propose an extended cellular automaton model based on the floor field. The floor field can be changed accordingly in the presence of pedestrians. Furthermore, the effects of pedestrians with different speeds are distinguished, i.e., still pedestrians result in more increment of the floor field than moving ones. The improved floor field reflects impact of pedestrians as movable obstacles on evacuation process. The presented model was calibrated by comparing with previous studies. It is shown that this model provides a better description of crowd evacuation both qualitatively and quantitatively. Then we investigated crowd evacuation from a middle-size theater. Four possible designs of aisles in the theater are studied and one of them is the actual design in reality. Numerical simulation shows that the actual design of the theater is reasonable. Then we optimize the position of the side exit in order to reduce the evacuation time. It is shown that the utilization of the two exits at bottom is less than that of the side exits. When the position of the side exit is shifted upwards by about 1.6 m, it is found that the evacuation time reaches its minimum.