Impact of Leader-Follower Behavior on Evacuation Performance

An Exploratory Modeling Approach

Conference paper (2023)

Authors

Jakob Irnich Student
C.N. van der Wal System Engineering - TPM
D.C. Duives Transport and Planning - CEG
Willem L. Auping Policy Analysis - TPM
Research Group
System Engineering (TPM) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 Jakob Irnich, C.N. van der Wal, D.C. Duives, Willem L. Auping
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34920-1_13
Uncertainty Evacuation Agent-based modelling EMA workbench Leader-following behaviour
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Department

Multi Actor Systems

Research Group

System Engineering

Abstract

Different leader-follower behaviors may be observed in models, such as group gathering, backtracking, and changing between groups. However, a comparison of these behaviors resulting in possible substantially different estimates of optimal evacuation procedures is lacking. Hence, we developed an agent-based model in combination with exploratory modeling to compare backtracking, group gathering, and followers changing leaders and investigate their influence on the evacuation and response time. The simulation results showed that backtracking and changing of groups increased the evacuation time. Whereby group gathering increase the response time. In addition, the combination of behaviors increases the influence on evacuation and response time. Further research needs to test these results with empirical studies and investigate the impact of other leader-follower behavior. The found insights may be utilized in evacuation research for modeling this behavior and they provide a valuable basis for designing policies in buildings with a high distribution of leader-follower groups.