An Improved Cellular Automata Model for Simulating Pedestrian Evacuation

A new evacuation model is proposed for simulating pedestrian dynamics during emergencies. Based on the traditional cellular automata model enhanced with a finer discretization of space, each pedestrian occupies more than one cell and can move more than one cell during each time step. The operational rules of desire repulsive, and friction forces in a social force model are introduced in the proposed model. We establish an exit choosing method and the movement rules, and observe pedestrian movements to new destinations. Velocity is considered when describing dynamic processes of pedestrian behaviors during an evacuation. The characteristics of pedestrian evacuations are analysed in simulations and. The results show that the proposed model is valid for simulating pedestrian evacuation.