Quantitative validation of PEDFLOW for description of unidirectional pedestrian dynamics

TL;DR

This paper presents a systematic quantitative validation of the PEDFLOW pedestrian dynamics model against experimental data, highlighting its accuracy at low densities and areas for improvement at higher densities.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive validation of PEDFLOW using diverse experimental scenarios, leading to model improvements and insights into its applicability.

Findings

Good agreement at densities below 3 m-2

Accurate for certain corridor widths at high densities

Underpredicts flow and velocities at medium densities

Abstract

The results of a systematic quantitative validation of PEDFLOW based on the experimental data from FZJ are presented. Unidirectional flow experiments, totaling 28 different combinations with varying entry, corridor and exit widths, were considered. The condition imposed on PEDFLOW was that all the cases should be run with the same input parameters. The exit times and fundamental diagrams for the measuring region were evaluated and compared. This validation process led to modifications and enhancements of the model underlying PEDFLOW. The preliminary conclusions indicate that the results agree well for densities smaller than 3 m-2 and a good agreement is observed even at high densities for the corridors with bcor = 2.4 m, and bcor = 3.0 m. For densities between 1 and 2 m-2 the specific flow and velocities are underpredicted by PEDFLOW.