Heterogeneity of decision strategy in collective escape of human crowds: On identifying the optimum composition

Abstract

Introduction: We raise the question of whether an escaping crowd can benefit from a mixture (or heterogeneity) of direction-choice-making strategies, and if so, how would an optimal composition of strategies be like. Methods: We perform extensive computer simulation analyses and examine crowds of evacuees composed of two different behavioural classes in terms of their direction-choice strategies. We examine three possible strategies: (I) follow the majority (II) follow the minority without the possibility of decision update and (III) follow the minority with the possibility of decision update. Findings: Results showed that the types of escape decision strategy and their composition in the cr..