Pedestrian flow characteristics through different angled bends: Exploring the spatial variation of velocity

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and traffic flow analysis
• Human-computer interaction and crowd dynamics
• Experimental fluid dynamics and pedestrian movement

Background:

• Complex geometrical layouts can create bottlenecks, especially during emergencies or high-density situations.
• Congestion effects in pedestrian flow are not uniformly distributed within bottleneck areas.
• Understanding spatial speed variations is crucial for effective crowd management and urban design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spatial variation of pedestrian speeds within bends of varying angles.
• To analyze how different turning angles and walking speeds influence congestion patterns.
• To identify specific areas within bends that are prone to bottleneck formation.

Main Methods:

• Controlled laboratory experiments using trajectory data from pedestrians navigating bends.
• Inclusion of four turning angles (45°, 90°, 135°, 180°), a straight corridor, and two speed levels (normal walking, slow running).
• Statistical analysis of speed variations across different spatial locations within the bends.

Main Results:

• Pedestrian speeds significantly differ across the bend area for all tested angles (except 0°) and speed levels.
• Average walking speeds are notably lower near the inner corner compared to the outer corner of the bend.
• Speed variations are amplified with increasing bend angles and desired speeds.

Conclusions:

• Even moderate turning angles (e.g., 45°) can form bottlenecks at inner corners, particularly at higher walking speeds.
• Findings are valuable for understanding congestion in complex geometrical settings and refining simulation tools.
• This research aids in designing safer and more efficient pedestrian flow systems.