Using cognitive agent-based simulation for the evaluation of indoor wayfinding systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cognitive agent-based simulation incorporating visual cognition to evaluate indoor wayfinding systems, validated through virtual reality experiments in a railway station, enhancing planning tools.

Contribution

It presents a novel cognitive agent model for indoor wayfinding simulation that reflects diverse human behaviors and is validated with empirical VR data.

Findings

Simulation aligns well with human behavior in VR experiments

Provides a new tool for evaluating and planning wayfinding systems

Enhances understanding of visual cognition in navigation

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to simulate human wayfinding behaviour incorporating visual cognition into a software agent for a computer aided evaluation of wayfinding systems in large infrastructures. The proposed approach follows the Sense-Plan-Act paradigm comprised of a model for visual attention, navigation behaviour and pedestrian movement. Stochastic features of perception are incorporated to enhance generality and diversity of the developed wayfinding simulation to reflect a variety of behaviours. The validity of the proposed approach was evaluated based on empirical data collected through wayfinding experiments with 20 participants in an immersive virtual reality environment using a life-sized 3D replica of Vienna's new central railway station. The results show that the developed cognitive agent-based simulation provides a further contribution to the simulation of human wayfinding and subsequently a further step to an effective evaluation tool for the planning of wayfinding and signage.