Reconciling Population and Agent Models for Crowd Dynamics

Citation

Bracciali A, Hillston J, Latella D & Massink M (2012) Reconciling Population and Agent Models for Crowd Dynamics. In: Muller B (ed.) LAM'10. 3rd International Workshop on Logics, Agents, and Mobility. EasyChair Proceedings in Computing (EPiC) series, 7. LAM'10: 3rd International Workshop on Logics, Agents, and Mobility associated with LICS, Edinburgh, 15.07.2010-15.07.2010. Edinburgh: Easy Chair Publications, pp. 3-18. http://www.floc-conference.org/LAM-home.html

Abstract
We propose an approach to the quantitative modelling of crowd dy- namics, viz. the behaviour of systems of large numbers of mobile agents. The approach relies on a stochastic process algebra as specification lan- guage (BioPEPA), and combines stochastic simulation techniques and continuous fluid flow approximation. The approach encompasses the agent modelling viewpoint, as system behaviour emerges from the specified agent interaction, and the population modelling viewpoint, when continu- ous analysis is used. The result is expressive, as we will show by discussing a few examples, and efficient, by the adoption of the fluid flow analysis techniques, which approximate system dynamics as continuous variations of population.

Keywords
modelling; crow dynamics