Critical Discussion of "Synchronized Flow", Simulation of Pedestrian Evacuation, and Optimization of Production Processes

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the concept of synchronized flow in traffic, proposes a universal theoretical framework supported by empirical data, and explores applications to pedestrian evacuation and production process optimization.

Contribution

It introduces a unified phase diagram theory for congested traffic states and discusses its relevance to pedestrian dynamics and production efficiency.

Findings

Proposes a universal phase diagram for traffic congestion.

Supports theory with new empirical and simulation data.

Links pedestrian evacuation phenomena to traffic flow concepts.

Abstract

We critically discuss the concept of ``synchronized flow'' from a historical, empirical, and theoretical perspective. Problems related to the measurement of vehicle data are highlighted, and questionable interpretations are identified. Moreover, we propose a quantitative and consistent theory of the empirical findings based on a phase diagram of congested traffic states, which is universal for all conventional traffic models having the same instability diagram and a fundamental diagram. New empirical and simulation data supporting this approach are presented as well. We also give a short overview of the various phenomena observed in panicking pedestrian crowds relevant from the point of evacuation of buildings, ships, and stadia. Some of these can be applied to the optimization of production processes, e.g. the ``slower-is-faster effect''.