Optimizing evacuation flow in a two-channel exclusion process

TL;DR

This paper models evacuation dynamics with two coupled exclusion processes, analytically determining optimal control strategies to maximize flow, and demonstrates how dynamic interventions can further improve evacuation efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled exclusion process model for evacuation, deriving phase behavior and optimal control strategies analytically, and validates findings with simulations.

Findings

Optimal control strategies maximize total evacuation flow.

Dynamic interventions exploiting fluctuations can increase flow further.

Mean-field analysis accurately predicts system behavior.

Abstract

We use a basic setup of two coupled exclusion processes to model a stylised situation in evacuation dynamics, in which evacuees have to choose between two escape routes. The coupling between the two processes occurs through one common point at which particles are injected, the process can be controlled by directing incoming individuals into either of the two escape routes. Based on a mean-field approach we determine the phase behaviour of the model, and analytically compute optimal control strategies, maximising the total current through the system. Results are confirmed by numerical simulations. We also show that dynamic intervention, exploiting fluctuations about the mean-field stationary state, can lead to a further increase in total current.