Modelling Crowd Dynamics
G. K. Still (Crowd Dynamics Ltd)
Crowd dynamics can be defined as the study of the how and where crowds form and move above the critical density of more than one person per square metre.
At higher densities there is the potential for overcrowding and personal injury.
It is therefore important to understand the dynamics of crowds, how crowds understand and interpret information systems, how management systems affect crowd behaviour. We call this the science of crowd dynamics.
As with all modelling the principles of discovery, understanding and control apply to crowd dynamics. We outline in this talk the fundamental influences on crowd behaviour – Design, Information and Management, during the three phases of crowd dynamics (ingress, circulation and egress) and how applying some simply predictive modelling was used to prevent dangerous over crowding at the last two London New Year Events.