Exit Configuration Effect on Evacuations at Outdoor Mass Gatherings: A Simulation-Based Study on Exit Cluster- ing and Width at Danish Festivals
Author
Sum, Csaba
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Abstract
This thesis examines how the design of exits affects how quickly and safely people can leave large outdoor events such as festivals. We use agent-based computer simulations in the Pathfinder software, which models each person as an individual agent, to systematically test the effects of exit width, placement, and how closely exits are grouped (clustering). We track overall evacuation time and crowding. We also apply the response surface method, a statistical technique that builds a simplified formula linking evacuation time to the most important exit design variables. The results show that wider exits significantly shorten evacuation time, but the best performance comes from balancing exit width with the number of exits. Placing exits too close together can create bottlenecks, while thoughtful placement helps reduce congestion. Based on these findings, event organizers should optimize exit placement and width to speed evacuations while meeting safety regulations. The study highlights that simulation-based analysis is a powerful tool for improving the planning and safety of mass gatherings, with relevance for festivals in Denmark and beyond.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan udformningen af udgange påvirker, hvor hurtigt og sikkert mennesker kan forlade store udendørs arrangementer som festivaler. Vi bruger agent-baserede computersimuleringer i softwareprogrammet Pathfinder, hvor hver person modelleres som en individuel agent, for systematisk at teste betydningen af udgangenes bredde, placering og hvor tæt udgange er samlet (klyngning). Vi måler både den samlede evakueringstid og graden af trængsel. Derudover anvender vi responsflade-metoden, en statistisk teknik, der opstiller en forenklet formel, som beskriver, hvordan evakueringstiden afhænger af de vigtigste udgangsparametre. Resultaterne viser, at bredere udgange markant reducerer evakueringstiden, men at den mest effektive løsning opnås ved at afveje udgangenes bredde mod antallet af udgange. Når udgange placeres for tæt, kan der opstå flaskehalse, mens en gennemtænkt placering hjælper med at reducere trængsel. På den baggrund anbefales arrangører at optimere udgangenes placering og bredde for at forbedre evakueringen og samtidig overholde sikkerhedsregler. Arbejdet understreger, at simuleringsbaserede analyser er et stærkt værktøj til at forbedre planlægning og sikkerhed ved store forsamlinger, med relevans for festivaler og andre begivenheder i Danmark og internationalt.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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