Simulation study on pedestrian evacuation optimization in a multi-exit building

Two multi-exit selection models based on social force model are presented to simulate pedestrian evacuation, and the model coefficients are optimized by considering the effect of the exit distance, exit width, crowd number and distribution. The evacuation processes employing shortest distance evacuation strategy, static and dynamic exit selection model are compared. The effects of the crowd number, distribution and desired speed are investigated on the evacuation time and balance degree with the static and dynamic exit selection model. The effects of group size and group shape on the evacuation time in dynamic exit selection model is explored. The simulation results indicate that the proposed dynamic exit selection model can realistically reflect the pedestrian evacuation and help predicate the time available in building spaces with multiple exits, which can lead to a shorter evacuation time and higher evacuation efficiency. The study has some guiding significance for emergency evacuation and exits design of multi-exit buildings.