Pedestrian flow data collection and analysis

Abstract

Although considerable work has been undertaken in the past to establish the principles of pedestrian flow, it has been the personal computer and the hand-held data logger than have enabled modelling of the pedestrian movement to be undertaken. Hitherto, most work had concentrated on what might be called the ‘street scene’. London Underground Limited wanted to extend and modify, where appropriate, the understanding of pedestrian behaviour. This would enable them to build computer models that reflected more accurately the behaviour of pedestrians within their rail stations. Before modelling could be undertaken, a series of surveys had to be carried out in order to establish the relationships between flow and journey times on various facilities encountered within stations-passageways, platforms, stairs, escalators and concourses. Subsequently, while modelling station changes that would improve passenger safety and amenities, observations were made of a variety of factors required by the model: train loadings, platform congestion, service regularity and reliability, in addition to volumetric counts and journey times on foot within the station. This Paper describes the background to the London Underground studies, and the work that had to be undertaken to help form an understanding of pedestrian behaviour within stations. It then describes the data collection and analysis aspects, including factors such as the training of enumerators for the tasks. It also discusses the requirement to model a base day, and the procedures adopted in order to produce a statement of annual worth of a scheme from a modelled base day.