Less queuing, more safety – the power of crowd simulations | Angelika Kneidl | TEDxTUM

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

I’d love to observe people that’s what I

I’d love to observe people that’s what I did today while you were having lunch

did today while you were having lunch

did today while you were having lunch break I started to do though when I was

break I started to do though when I was

break I started to do though when I was started doing my PhD which wasn’t proud

started doing my PhD which wasn’t proud

started doing my PhD which wasn’t proud simulations so why would we need crowd

simulations so why would we need crowd

simulations so why would we need crowd simulations crowd simulations help us to

simulations crowd simulations help us to

simulations crowd simulations help us to improve buildings or to to put the human

improve buildings or to to put the human

improve buildings or to to put the human into the center of designing buildings

into the center of designing buildings

into the center of designing buildings or events so look at the situation so I

or events so look at the situation so I

or events so look at the situation so I used to commute every day this is in

used to commute every day this is in

used to commute every day this is in Munich and it not really feels very nice

Munich and it not really feels very nice

Munich and it not really feels very nice if you see on the right hand side the

if you see on the right hand side the

if you see on the right hand side the train is just approaching and you don’t

train is just approaching and you don’t

train is just approaching and you don’t have a chance to catch this train

have a chance to catch this train

have a chance to catch this train because it’s just too overcrowded and in

because it’s just too overcrowded and in

because it’s just too overcrowded and in the morning you’re not in a good mood at

the morning you’re not in a good mood at

the morning you’re not in a good mood at least for me and you really feel like oh

least for me and you really feel like oh

least for me and you really feel like oh my god it’s always so overcrowded so why

my god it’s always so overcrowded so why

my god it’s always so overcrowded so why is this or look at this situation this

is this or look at this situation this

is this or look at this situation this happened to me actually this summer at

happened to me actually this summer at

happened to me actually this summer at is festival and I had several beers

is festival and I had several beers

is festival and I had several beers already so really needed to pee and well

already so really needed to pee and well

already so really needed to pee and well there was a queue in front of the loose

there was a queue in front of the loose

there was a queue in front of the loose and this time boys were affected as well

and this time boys were affected as well

and this time boys were affected as well so it was not only girls problem which

so it was not only girls problem which

so it was not only girls problem which is normally the case so why our facility

is normally the case so why our facility

is normally the case so why our facility planned like this and why do we always

planned like this and why do we always

planned like this and why do we always have to queue or look at this situation

have to queue or look at this situation

have to queue or look at this situation this was an entrance situation at Woking

this was an entrance situation at Woking

this was an entrance situation at Woking Park which is a really huge festival in

Park which is a really huge festival in

Park which is a really huge festival in Germany and it was me taking the picture

Germany and it was me taking the picture

Germany and it was me taking the picture and you see the two pillars and there

and you see the two pillars and there

and you see the two pillars and there the entrance was located and it took us

the entrance was located and it took us

the entrance was located and it took us like 30 minutes until we got into the

like 30 minutes until we got into the

like 30 minutes until we got into the festival and actually we wanted to see a

festival and actually we wanted to see a

festival and actually we wanted to see a show act and it didn’t work out because

show act and it didn’t work out because

show act and it didn’t work out because really had to queue so that’s why I I

really had to queue so that’s why I I

really had to queue so that’s why I I like to help or improve venues or events

like to help or improve venues or events

like to help or improve venues or events by applying simulations so what is done

by applying simulations so what is done

by applying simulations so what is done until now so when it comes to plan an

until now so when it comes to plan an

until now so when it comes to plan an event or a venue or a building then you

event or a venue or a building then you

event or a venue or a building then you really have to make sure that everybody

really have to make sure that everybody

really have to make sure that everybody gets safe out in case of an emergency so

gets safe out in case of an emergency so

gets safe out in case of an emergency so we have in Germany for example we have

we have in Germany for example we have

we have in Germany for example we have this Mustafa’s amongst Teton Fortnum

this Mustafa’s amongst Teton Fortnum

this Mustafa’s amongst Teton Fortnum this

this

this is really crappy and it’s really like

is really crappy and it’s really like

is really crappy and it’s really like that I mean if there’s regulations and

that I mean if there’s regulations and

that I mean if there’s regulations and you their aesthetic rules that apply

you their aesthetic rules that apply

you their aesthetic rules that apply there so one rule for example is that no

there so one rule for example is that no

there so one rule for example is that no exit should be located further away than

exit should be located further away than

exit should be located further away than 30 minutes from each location inside a

30 minutes from each location inside a

30 minutes from each location inside a room for example for like here or inside

room for example for like here or inside

room for example for like here or inside a building a second rule is that each

a building a second rule is that each

a building a second rule is that each emergency exit

emergency exit

emergency exit has to be at least of one meter 20 with

has to be at least of one meter 20 with

has to be at least of one meter 20 with that should assure that everybody gets

that should assure that everybody gets

that should assure that everybody gets out of the accident the exit wound be

out of the accident the exit wound be

out of the accident the exit wound be blocked so I brought an example with me

blocked so I brought an example with me

blocked so I brought an example with me this is an airport so you see in a

this is an airport so you see in a

this is an airport so you see in a northern part you see the planes

northern part you see the planes

northern part you see the planes arriving and departing then on the

arriving and departing then on the

arriving and departing then on the western and eastern side there are the

western and eastern side there are the

western and eastern side there are the parking lots then there we have public

parking lots then there we have public

parking lots then there we have public transport on the western side and in the

transport on the western side and in the

transport on the western side and in the South’s we do have caps and buses and

South’s we do have caps and buses and

South’s we do have caps and buses and this is the arrivals area of an airport

this is the arrivals area of an airport

this is the arrivals area of an airport and you see in the middle of the effort

and you see in the middle of the effort

and you see in the middle of the effort so in the center there’s a waiting area

so in the center there’s a waiting area

so in the center there’s a waiting area where everybody is waiting for their

where everybody is waiting for their

where everybody is waiting for their beloved ones so now we’re applying these

beloved ones so now we’re applying these

beloved ones so now we’re applying these static rules and we place all these

static rules and we place all these

static rules and we place all these emergency exits so since the building is

emergency exits so since the building is

emergency exits so since the building is quite large we have to place emergency

quite large we have to place emergency

quite large we have to place emergency exits in the middle of the building

exits in the middle of the building

exits in the middle of the building which means this is not leading outside

which means this is not leading outside

which means this is not leading outside but they’re leading inside a tunnel

but they’re leading inside a tunnel

but they’re leading inside a tunnel which leads underneath the building and

which leads underneath the building and

which leads underneath the building and goes up at the street so let’s imagine a

goes up at the street so let’s imagine a

goes up at the street so let’s imagine a fire breaks out inside this building

fire breaks out inside this building

fire breaks out inside this building so I simulated this and you can see here

so I simulated this and you can see here

so I simulated this and you can see here the result what happens and the problem

the result what happens and the problem

the result what happens and the problem is that a lot of congestion occurred in

is that a lot of congestion occurred in

is that a lot of congestion occurred in front of the bottlenecks like the exits

front of the bottlenecks like the exits

front of the bottlenecks like the exits which are located in the centre of the

which are located in the centre of the

which are located in the centre of the building so this is not a really nice

building so this is not a really nice

building so this is not a really nice experience of somebody who tries to flee

experience of somebody who tries to flee

experience of somebody who tries to flee out of a fire but he cannot walk forward

out of a fire but he cannot walk forward

out of a fire but he cannot walk forward because he has to queue and to get out

because he has to queue and to get out

because he has to queue and to get out of the exit so what I observed is that

of the exit so what I observed is that

of the exit so what I observed is that people do not feel comfortable if they

people do not feel comfortable if they

people do not feel comfortable if they have to queue while something bad

have to queue while something bad

have to queue while something bad happening behind their backs so let’s

happening behind their backs so let’s

happening behind their backs so let’s have another look so let’s say okay what

have another look so let’s say okay what

have another look so let’s say okay what happens if we do have this building

happens if we do have this building

happens if we do have this building again and let’s say ok what if we think

again and let’s say ok what if we think

again and let’s say ok what if we think that people maybe try to get out of the

that people maybe try to get out of the

that people maybe try to get out of the building the same way they entered it so

building the same way they entered it so

building the same way they entered it so maybe we just say ok what if these exit

maybe we just say ok what if these exit

maybe we just say ok what if these exit wouldn’t exists so I simulate this again

wouldn’t exists so I simulate this again

wouldn’t exists so I simulate this again the people walk further away so they

the people walk further away so they

the people walk further away so they really need a long way or in a long a

really need a long way or in a long a

really need a long way or in a long a distance but there hasn’t haven’t been

distance but there hasn’t haven’t been

distance but there hasn’t haven’t been any congestion yet that is because

any congestion yet that is because

any congestion yet that is because people are have longer ways and then

people are have longer ways and then

people are have longer ways and then they they don’t have to the the

they they don’t have to the the

they they don’t have to the the bottlenecks is not occurring anymore so

bottlenecks is not occurring anymore so

bottlenecks is not occurring anymore so and the funny fact about this was that

and the funny fact about this was that

and the funny fact about this was that even though the people have to work

even though the people have to work

even though the people have to work further the total evacuation time wasn’t

further the total evacuation time wasn’t

further the total evacuation time wasn’t any higher so a second fact I serve is

any higher so a second fact I serve is

any higher so a second fact I serve is that people tend to exit the building

that people tend to exit the building

that people tend to exit the building from where they’ve entered so I’d like

from where they’ve entered so I’d like

from where they’ve entered so I’d like to ask you now to do two things so first

to ask you now to do two things so first

to ask you now to do two things so first here probably this one is the closest

here probably this one is the closest

here probably this one is the closest exit of me standing here so I’d like to

exit of me standing here so I’d like to

exit of me standing here so I’d like to you to think of how far is this exit

you to think of how far is this exit

you to think of how far is this exit located away from me so I would guess

located away from me so I would guess

located away from me so I would guess it’s around 10 meters and the second

it’s around 10 meters and the second

it’s around 10 meters and the second thing please point towards the exit I

thing please point towards the exit I

thing please point towards the exit I just pointed to so please point there

just pointed to so please point there

just pointed to so please point there all right so you very good so and

all right so you very good so and

all right so you very good so and there’s like probably everybody has

there’s like probably everybody has

there’s like probably everybody has thought of a slightly different number

thought of a slightly different number

thought of a slightly different number than I just told you like this 10 meters

than I just told you like this 10 meters

than I just told you like this 10 meters because we people we are really really

because we people we are really really

because we people we are really really bad in estimating distances very exactly

bad in estimating distances very exactly

bad in estimating distances very exactly but where we are good at and everybody

but where we are good at and everybody

but where we are good at and everybody pointed there is like topological issues

pointed there is like topological issues

pointed there is like topological issues so we are really good in saying OK in

so we are really good in saying OK in

so we are really good in saying OK in which direction do we have to go and

which direction do we have to go and

which direction do we have to go and this should be considered when it comes

this should be considered when it comes

this should be considered when it comes to designing buildings and exits so look

to designing buildings and exits so look

to designing buildings and exits so look at this poor guy in the middle here so

at this poor guy in the middle here so

at this poor guy in the middle here so actually well this is a 30 meter radius

actually well this is a 30 meter radius

actually well this is a 30 meter radius so he could walk towards for exit but he

so he could walk towards for exit but he

so he could walk towards for exit but he doesn’t know which one is the closest

doesn’t know which one is the closest

doesn’t know which one is the closest because it’s really hard for us to

because it’s really hard for us to

because it’s really hard for us to estimate such things so we should take

estimate such things so we should take

estimate such things so we should take into account when it comes to plan

into account when it comes to plan

into account when it comes to plan buildings that people cannot estimate

buildings that people cannot estimate

buildings that people cannot estimate distances very well back to my commuting

distances very well back to my commuting

distances very well back to my commuting times this is another station in Munich

times this is another station in Munich

times this is another station in Munich and you see like three photos I’ve taken

and you see like three photos I’ve taken

and you see like three photos I’ve taken when the train was arriving and then the

when the train was arriving and then the

when the train was arriving and then the left escalator is leading

left escalator is leading

left escalator is leading and I was just standing on the escalator

and I was just standing on the escalator

and I was just standing on the escalator leading down and I thought it was very

leading down and I thought it was very

leading down and I thought it was very interesting I told you I love to observe

interesting I told you I love to observe

interesting I told you I love to observe people what the people did over there

people what the people did over there

people what the people did over there you see this really empty spot there and

you see this really empty spot there and

you see this really empty spot there and they didn’t try to overtake in order to

they didn’t try to overtake in order to

they didn’t try to overtake in order to get fast on the escalator but they cute

get fast on the escalator but they cute

get fast on the escalator but they cute very discipline it and they really knew

very discipline it and they really knew

very discipline it and they really knew in a way that it doesn’t make sense for

in a way that it doesn’t make sense for

in a way that it doesn’t make sense for them to overtake because then it would

them to overtake because then it would

them to overtake because then it would block me as I’m coming down and so they

block me as I’m coming down and so they

block me as I’m coming down and so they kept the space empty so very

kept the space empty so very

kept the space empty so very interestingly people are not very

interestingly people are not very

interestingly people are not very selfish but they care about each other

selfish but they care about each other

selfish but they care about each other or they think of other people and taking

or they think of other people and taking

or they think of other people and taking this one step further there’s this

this one step further there’s this

this one step further there’s this called so-called social identity that

called so-called social identity that

called so-called social identity that when it comes to something bad happening

when it comes to something bad happening

when it comes to something bad happening we people tend to help each other and to

we people tend to help each other and to

we people tend to help each other and to take care of each other

take care of each other

take care of each other so one aspect we really have to take

so one aspect we really have to take

so one aspect we really have to take into account is that people are social

into account is that people are social

into account is that people are social and they help each other

and they help each other

and they help each other so where are we right now right now we

so where are we right now right now we

so where are we right now right now we have the static rules when it comes to

have the static rules when it comes to

have the static rules when it comes to plan buildings venues events but this is

plan buildings venues events but this is

plan buildings venues events but this is obviously not enough so we have to take

obviously not enough so we have to take

obviously not enough so we have to take into account human behavior and

into account human behavior and

into account human behavior and abilities and we have to take into

abilities and we have to take into

abilities and we have to take into account psychological and sociological

account psychological and sociological

account psychological and sociological aspects so and this is where the

aspects so and this is where the

aspects so and this is where the simulations can help us because

simulations can help us because

simulations can help us because simulations can combine these different

simulations can combine these different

simulations can combine these different aspects by taking into account different

aspects by taking into account different

aspects by taking into account different layers so starting from the very low

layers so starting from the very low

layers so starting from the very low level like the locomotion layer so how

level like the locomotion layer so how

level like the locomotion layer so how do people walk so how do people set the

do people walk so how do people set the

do people walk so how do people set the next step so actually how would I walk

next step so actually how would I walk

next step so actually how would I walk down the stage I don’t want to fall I

down the stage I don’t want to fall I

down the stage I don’t want to fall I don’t want to bump into other people I

don’t want to bump into other people I

don’t want to bump into other people I don’t want to bump into obstacles so

don’t want to bump into obstacles so

don’t want to bump into obstacles so somehow the computer has to be taught

somehow the computer has to be taught

somehow the computer has to be taught how as people are walking and this can

how as people are walking and this can

how as people are walking and this can be done quite well the second layer we

be done quite well the second layer we

be done quite well the second layer we have to take care of is the navigational

have to take care of is the navigational

have to take care of is the navigational layer so everybody of us has a map

layer so everybody of us has a map

layer so everybody of us has a map inside his brain so it has nothing to do

inside his brain so it has nothing to do

inside his brain so it has nothing to do with Google Maps but it’s like a

with Google Maps but it’s like a

with Google Maps but it’s like a cognitive map so every everybody has

cognitive map so every everybody has

cognitive map so every everybody has like spots for example around the home

like spots for example around the home

like spots for example around the home surroundings or where you work or where

surroundings or where you work or where

surroundings or where you work or where you go to university and you know this

you go to university and you know this

you go to university and you know this place very well and you know like maybe

place very well and you know like maybe

place very well and you know like maybe even special ways and you know how to

even special ways and you know how to

even special ways and you know how to get from A to B but if you’re somewhere

get from A to B but if you’re somewhere

get from A to B but if you’re somewhere for the first time there are blind spots

for the first time there are blind spots

for the first time there are blind spots in your cognitive map and this can be

in your cognitive map and this can be

in your cognitive map and this can be done really nicely with simulations the

done really nicely with simulations the

done really nicely with simulations the next layer we have to take into account

next layer we have to take into account

next layer we have to take into account is the strategy layer so it really

is the strategy layer so it really

is the strategy layer so it really matters whether somebody walks or or

matters whether somebody walks or or

matters whether somebody walks or or goes somewhere like in the morning when

goes somewhere like in the morning when

goes somewhere like in the morning when he has to go to office he’s probably in

he has to go to office he’s probably in

he has to go to office he’s probably in a rush or in a hurry because he’s

a rush or in a hurry because he’s

a rush or in a hurry because he’s already too late or if he’s going to a

already too late or if he’s going to a

already too late or if he’s going to a museum and enjoying his latter time or

museum and enjoying his latter time or

museum and enjoying his latter time or if in case of emergency if you really

if in case of emergency if you really

if in case of emergency if you really want to go or go away from some harm or

want to go or go away from some harm or

want to go or go away from some harm or some situation so this has to be

some situation so this has to be

some situation so this has to be considered as well because it depends on

considered as well because it depends on

considered as well because it depends on how we behave and this is actually where

how we behave and this is actually where

how we behave and this is actually where we are heading to and where is a lot of

we are heading to and where is a lot of

we are heading to and where is a lot of research has to be made it’s about the

research has to be made it’s about the

research has to be made it’s about the behavior layer so how do we behave and

behavior layer so how do we behave and

behavior layer so how do we behave and how do we q for example I mean there’s

how do we q for example I mean there’s

how do we q for example I mean there’s different cultural differences between

different cultural differences between

different cultural differences between Germany or UK we are not really

Germany or UK we are not really

Germany or UK we are not really discipline it but when it comes to

discipline it but when it comes to

discipline it but when it comes to cueing as in UK everybody is lining up

cueing as in UK everybody is lining up

cueing as in UK everybody is lining up very nicely or for example what happens

very nicely or for example what happens

very nicely or for example what happens if family walks and then there’s an

if family walks and then there’s an

if family walks and then there’s an emergency so you wouldn’t leave your kid

emergency so you wouldn’t leave your kid

emergency so you wouldn’t leave your kid behind you would walk backwards or with

behind you would walk backwards or with

behind you would walk backwards or with friends so we are not individual so we

friends so we are not individual so we

friends so we are not individual so we have like behaviors and we interact with

have like behaviors and we interact with

have like behaviors and we interact with each other and this is where we really

each other and this is where we really

each other and this is where we really have to take into account and this is

have to take into account and this is

have to take into account and this is where simulations can help us and if we

where simulations can help us and if we

where simulations can help us and if we have a look into the future then we

have a look into the future then we

have a look into the future then we really have to see that cities are

really have to see that cities are

really have to see that cities are growing we have to share space less

growing we have to share space less

growing we have to share space less space over the same space with more and

space over the same space with more and

space over the same space with more and more people and we have to be able to

more people and we have to be able to

more people and we have to be able to design buildings and venues in such way

design buildings and venues in such way

design buildings and venues in such way that we feel comfortable and that we can

that we feel comfortable and that we can

that we feel comfortable and that we can share the space even if it’s not so much

share the space even if it’s not so much

share the space even if it’s not so much so and this is I think where simulation

so and this is I think where simulation

so and this is I think where simulation can help us and they can improve such

can help us and they can improve such

can help us and they can improve such things and especially they can prevent

things and especially they can prevent

things and especially they can prevent like these situations I just showed you

like these situations I just showed you

like these situations I just showed you in the beginning and that’s why I keep

in the beginning and that’s why I keep

in the beginning and that’s why I keep on observing you guys thank you