Geometric constraint based pedestrian movement model on stairways

Stairways connect different levels of ground and serve as the only means of escape in case of fire in most buildings. Thus pedestrian movement dynamics on stairways has attracted researchers from different disciplines. As a result of the geometric constraints of the stairs, pedestrian movement features on stairways are different from level ambulation. However, most current modeling pedestrian models for stairway movement have not taken into account the constraints of stairs. In the present study, a computer simulation model named Pedestrian Footstep Model is formulated. In this model, the tread depth and riser height together determine a pedestrian’s footstep length, which finally affects the actual movement speed that a pedestrian can achieve. In this way, the model cannot only simulate pedestrian movement on stairs but also on horizontal ground. Dynamics of pedestrian crowd movement process are explored considering different stair geometry features, floor height and flow situations.