This paper simulates bonding effects inside pedestrian crowds. Based on the social force model, this paper derives an exponential formulation of the bonding force, as opposed to the repulsive force, and surveys the degree of interpersonal cohesion under various circumstances. Parameters associated with the model are calibrated by preliminary simulation runs. With the proper simulation environment configuration, the effect of the bonding force is extensively demonstrated. Results show that the bonding force results in pedestrians’ walking speeds being different from their initial intended ones. Specifically, delays in walking and the overtaking phenomenon, which are empirically observed, are explained using this model. In the zigzag walkway defined in the experiment, up to approximately 4% fewer pedestrians are able to escape in the prescribed time, due to bonding effects. To sum up, the bonding forces cause negative effects on pedestrian evacuation and should be taken into consideration for crowd dynamics research.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Bonding force, emergency evacuation, micro- scopic simulation, pedestrian dynamics, social force model
Research Division:	Information and Computing Sciences
Research Group:	Library and information studies
Research Field:	Human information interaction and retrieval
Objective Division:	Information and Communication Services
Objective Group:	Information systems, technologies and services
Objective Field:	Information systems, technologies and services not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Duh, HBL (Professor Henry Duh)
ID Code:	90291
Year Published:	2010
Web of Science® Times Cited:	64
Deposited By:	Information and Communication Technology
Deposited On:	2014-03-31
Last Modified:	2017-06-06
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