Agent-based modeling for theme park evacuation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0561

Keywords:

agent-based modeling, pedestrian evacuation simulation, AnyLogic

Abstract

Each year theme parks can see up to 20 million patrons, but often little effort is put into planning for an emergency evacuation. In this study, we built a multiagent simulation model using AnyLogic® 8.5.1. The model was based on a preliminary design of a theme park provided by AOA Builds, Orlando.

This research had two goals: the first was to compare evacuation time when the park is full (1) using only the main guest gate and (2) using all seven available exits. The second goal was to model first responder response time between various start and end locations within the park.

Using only the main gate, evacuation took an average of 14 minutes and 51 seconds. Using all seven gates results in an average evacuation time of 11 minutes and 58 seconds. This was due to a gate being overwhelmed causing a delay in overall evacuation time. If that gate is not included in the calculation, the average evacuation time drops to 6 minutes and 44 seconds.

For the purpose of measuring response times, four starting locations were chosen with the guidance of a subject matter expert. These locations included response teams positioned at the front gate, at a police station, at the service area behind a main attraction, and mobile patrol walking around the park. Based on our testing, walking around the park was the best option in terms of response time, using the main gate was 53.7 percent faster than other options and, using all seven gates, was 60.7 percent faster during an evacuation using all seven exits.

Author Biographies

Krassimir Tzvetanov, MS

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Austin Riegsecker, MS

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Braiden Frantz, MS, PhD

Assistant Professor, Naval Science & Marine Officer Instructor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Chenxi Xiong

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Robert Bott, PhD

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Travis Cline, MS, PhD

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Ben Dubiel

Vice President of Industrial Engineering and Simulation Services, Integrated Insight Inc., Orlando, Florida

J. Eric Dietz, PhD, PE

Professor, Computer and Information, Technology, Purdue Homeland Security Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

References

US Department of Homeland Security: Amusement, theme, and water parks. 2006. Available at https://info.publicintelligence.net/Commercial_ThemeParks.pdf. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Drabek TE: Disaster evacuations: Tourist-business managers rarely act as customers expect. Cornell Hotel Restaur Adm Q. 2000; 41(4): 48-57. DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8804(00)80034-8.

Facebook, Twitter, options S more sharing, et al.: Thundering heard, USC Wins: Weather: Ohio State players are unhappy with the way game ended and also with the way they played defense against USC. Los Angeles Times. September 30, 1990. Available at https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-30-sp-2367-story.html. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Tramel J: Weather delay sends OSU-TU game to 3:35 a.m. end-time. Tulsa World. Available at https://tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/collegefootball/weather-delay-sends-osu-tu-game-to-3-35-am-end-time/article_bdf4e87f-2150-5ce8-ab45-d1e6557e3310.html. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Attwood E: Preparing for a weather-related stadium evacuation. Athletic Business. Available at https://www.athleticbusiness.com/recreation-outdoor-security/preparing-for-a-weather-relatedstadium-evacuation.html. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Department of Homeland Security: Evacuation planning guide for stadiums. 2008. Available at https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/evacuation-planning-guide-stadiums-508.pdf. Accessed April 23, 2021.

SportEvac: Deployment of SportEvac at Menonomee Falls High School. 2014. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrkE1bAqYA. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Mass evacuations: Planning for sports venues. 3.

Spartan Stadium Evacuation Drill: 2015. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD31yjoYxh8. Accessed August 19, 2020.

SportEvac Brochure. 2014. Available at https://support.incontrolsim.com/en/topvenue/89-sportevac-brochure/download.html. Accessed August 18, 2020.

SportEvac: Choreographing a Stadium Stampede. Department of Homeland Security. 2010. Available at https://www.dhs.gov/sportevac-choreographing-stadium-stampede. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Glass P, Dietz E, Aaltenon P: Using discrete-event simulation to increase the efficiency of point of distribution sites. J Emerg Manag. 2018; 16(5): 279. DOI: 10.5055/jem.2018.0378.

Kirby A, Dietz JE, Wojtalewicz C: Modeling of a Regional Hub Reception Center to improve the speed of an urban area evacuation. In 2012 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST). IEEE. 2012: 476-482. DOI: 10.1109/THS.2012.6459895.

Kirby A, Anklam CE, Dietz JE: Active shooter mitigation for gun-free zones. In 2016 IEEE Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST). 2016: 1-6. DOI: 10.1109/THS.2016.7568957.

ResearchGate: Agent-based modeling to assess the effectiveness of run, hide, fight. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333292303_AGENT-BASED_MODELING_TO_ASSESS_THE_EFFECTIVENESS_OF_RUN_HIDE_FIGHT. Accessed August 19, 2020.

Song W, Xu X, Wang B-H, et al.: Simulation of evacuation processes using a multi-grid model for pedestrian dynamics. Phys Stat Mech Its Appl. 2006; 363(2): 492-500. DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2005.08.036.

Yang B, Wu Y, Wang C: A multi-agent and GIS based simulation for emergency evacuation in park and public square. In 2009 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security, vol. 1. 2009: 211-216. DOI: 10.1109/CIS.2009.234.

Zhang Q, Zhao G, Liu J: Performance-based design for large crowd venue control using a multi-agent model. Tinshhua Sci Technol. 2009; 14(3): 352-359. DOI: 10.1016/S1007-0214(09)70051-3.

Solmaz G, Turgut D: Pedestrian mobility in theme park disasters. IEEE Commun Mag. 2015; 53(7): 172-177. DOI: 10.1109/MCOM.2015.7158282.

Abdelghany A, Abdelghany K, Mahmassani H, et al.: Modeling framework for optimal evacuation of large-scale crowded pedestrian facilities. Eur J Oper Res. 2014; 237(3): 1105-1118. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2014.02.054.

Published

03/01/2022

How to Cite

Tzvetanov, MS, K., A. Riegsecker, MS, B. Frantz, MS, PhD, C. Xiong, R. Bott, PhD, T. Cline, MS, PhD, B. Dubiel, and J. E. Dietz, PhD, PE. “Agent-Based Modeling for Theme Park Evacuation”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 20, no. 2, Mar. 2022, pp. 157-73, doi:10.5055/jem.0561.