Panic, Crowd, and Evacuation Simulation Modeling in Fire and Emergency

The terms 'panic' and 'crowd' are frequently used in media contexts, Fire & Rescue Services, and statements of witnesses and survivors of fire and emergency mass evacuations, but taking a more close and scholarly look, what are they exactly referred to? Are they phenomena that actually happen? Even though a great deal of evidence suggests that panic seldom occurs in fires, the notion of panic and the term continue to be employed by the public as well as fire experts. It is imperative to demystify the misinterpretation and assert that panic is an intrinsic aspect of all fires and determine any scientific justification for its utilization. On the other hand, on a majority number of occasions, accompanied by these murky terms, we encounter another novel and discussion-provoking concept known as 'crowd and simulation modeling'. In recent years, crowd modeling has become increasingly important and been at the center of attention in fire and emergency services. Therefore, this paper set out to discuss and review the definitions and misconceptions used about the words 'panic' and 'crowd'. In addition, the present study aims at looking into some aspects of what has been accomplished in the field of crowd and mass evacuation modeling as it allows for the simulation of human movement and reaction that, accordingly, is likely to contribute to describing and anticipating how people behave in real emergency situations. The results of this study have direct implications for Fire & Rescue Services with regard to how to manage mass evacuation. The point should be made is that, although the findings may be applied worldwide, one must be aware that extrapolating the data may result in different outcomes due to social, cultural, economic, and political difference in other countries.

Keywords:

Crowd simulation , modeling , evacuation , panic