Insights Toward Characteristics of Merging Streams of Pedestrian Crowds Based on Experiments with Panicked Ants

Abstract

Geometric design of egress and ingress configurations affects collective movement of pedestrians. Merging streams of pedestrian crowds is, in particular, one of the frequently observed features in public infrastructures and mass gatherings. However, few qualitative and quantitative studies have addressed this phenomenon in emergency situations because of the scarcity of data on human panic conditions. This paper studies the underlying geometric factors that affect dynamics and flow characteristics of merging streams in panic conditions through the use of nonhuman entities. Many experiments with panicked ants were performed in different angles and geometric characteristics. Flow rates, headwa..