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Emergent Structural Mechanisms for High-Density Collective Motion Inspired by Human Crowds
Arianna Bottinelli1, David T J Sumpter1, Jesse L Silverberg2
1Mathematics Department, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Uppsala 75106, Sweden.
Physical Review Letters
|December 8, 2016
Summary
Human crowd motion, driven by physical interactions in dense groups, can be dangerous. This study uses an active matter model to identify mechanisms like Goldstone modes and stochastic resonance in collective crowd behavior.
Area of Science:
- Physics of complex systems
- Statistical mechanics
- Social dynamics
Background:
- Collective motion in large human crowds is density-dependent.
- Extreme events (concerts, sales) show motion dominated by physical interactions over social norms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To study an active matter model for crowds gathering at a common interest point.
- To identify mechanisms driving dangerous emergent collective motion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an approach developed for jammed granular media.
- Analyzed an active matter model inspired by human crowd dynamics.
Main Results:
- Identified Goldstone modes as soft spots in crowd dynamics.
- Revealed stochastic resonance as a mechanism for emergent motion.
- Structural properties drive dangerous collective behavior.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the physics of crowd behavior.
- Identified mechanisms can help predict and mitigate risks in dense human gatherings.
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