ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a framework for a dynamic pedestrian model taking into account strategic route choice decisions and multi-directional flow propagation. In an open space, a large number of possible trajectories for pedestrians can be defined. However, psychologically, these trajectories are not necessarily considered as distinct routes in the route choice decision of the pedestrians. In the study described herein, pedestrians are assumed to choose a series of consecutive sub-areas to traverse along at first level. Subsequently, the model allocates the actual flows on each trajectory based up on an assumption of dynamic user optimum (DUO). By combining these two stages of flow allocation, the model assumes a hierarchical decision of a pedestrian’s route choice. This chapter thus presents the adoption of a modified cell-transmission model (CTM) to represent the physical phenomena of congestion and dynamical propagation of pedestrian flows. A key difference between this model and the original CTM is the multi-directional congestion due to the nature of the pedestrian flows. An approach has thus been proposed to extend the analysis in the original CTM to consider multi-directional movement. The contribution also applies the proposed model to two test cases in order to illustrate its applicability and plausibility.
