INCORPORATING THE EVACUATION DECISION MODEL INTO AN EGRESS SIMULATION PROGRAM AND ASSESSMENT OF NEW ZEALAND PRE-TRAVEL SCENARIOS

Abstract

Pre-evacuation time can be defined as the time between the first cue and when the population starts evacuating. The Evacuation Decision Model (EDM) considers the evacuation decision process over time and predicts the evolution of the decision to take protective action based on risk perception. The parameters that affect the decision-making process of an individual have been defined, and incorporated into the properties of the EvacuatioNZ agent-based egress model to quantify the risk perception level and the response action in consequence to the agent state (i.e., the perceived risk level). Subsequently EDM is assessed to reproduce pre-travel activities times from C/VM2 and formulate a consistent set of parameters that may characterize a specific building use category. The incorporation of the EDM into an egress simulation program allows a focused approach to more realistic evacuation times based on the actual characteristics of the occupants and the building.