Improving Pedestrian Flow: Modeling and Space Syntax within GIS

1. A Case Study of the Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show Improving Pedestrian Flow: Modeling and Space Syntax within GIS Benjamin Shelton - MGIS Candidate Advised by Dr. Alexander Klippel

2. Motivation Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show Photo Courtesy of http://www.pittsburgh.afrc.af.mil/

3. Motivation Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show Photo Courtesy of http://www.pittsburgh.afrc.af.mil/

4. Motivation • Improve the placement of static displays, tents, and vendors. • Improve accessibility for general public. • Identify major thoroughfares to ease flow of pedestrians. • Improve egress routes for disaster/emergency preparedness.

5. Research Question How can geospatial modeling and analytical methods to represent pedestrian movement be incorporated to improve the flow of pedestrians and accessibility of a large public event? -Flow measured through use of Agent Based Modeling scenarios. -Accessibility measured in terms of Space Syntax parameters.

6. Methodology • Determine best methods for visualizing and analyzing pedestrian movement through a space. • Determine how to best incorporate into GIS. • Assessment in real world scenario using past Air Show data.

7. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax • Science-based approach to urban planning, design, and architecture. • Characterizes spaces to analyze movement, interactions, land uses, and many other aspects. • Axial Lines: • Used to represent flow of movement along lines of visibility from point to point through a space. • Used to measure spatial connectivity and integration.

8. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax Example • [2011 Air Show Layout]

9. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax Example • [2011Integration]

10. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax Example • [2009 Integration]

11. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax Example • [2009 Connectivity]

12. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Space Syntax Example • [2011 Alternate Layout Integration] • ADJUSTED • ORIGINAL

13. 1. Methods for visualizing & analyzing pedestrian flow • Agent-Based Model (ABM) • Agent: Autonomous, goal-directed data points that are interactive, both with the environment and with other agents. • Pros: • More realistic than previous density or group-level approaches for pedestrian behavior . • Modeling at the individual level provides insight into complex local interactions that influence the overall movement pattern. • Flexible to fit many scenarios and environments. • Cons: • Requires high computer processing to handle a large number of agents. • Difficult to encompass all the complexities of human behavior into an agent.

14. 2. Incorporating into GIS • Agent Based Models: • Hurdles to implementing ABM completely within GIS: • Difficulty of GIS in handling temporal data. • Inability of GIS to handle the execution of a model of agent behaviors for individual data points. • GIS-centric vs. ABM-centric • GIS-centric: External tools and scripts used within GIS software to develop an Agent-Based Model. • ABM-centric: GIS data used within external Agent-Based Modeling software. **PedestriansV1 ABM example downloaded from NetLogo User Community Models Website. Originally created and submitted by Singhathip Mickael in 2008.

15. Possible ABM Software Solutions: • Swarm • Open source • Objective C or Python • Repast (“Recursive Porous Agent Simulation Toolkit”) • Open source • Java or Python • Agent Analyst toolbox for ArcGIS – Latest release is for 9.2 (GIS-centric example) • MASON (“Multi-agent Simulator of Neighborhoods”) • Open Source • Java • NetLogo • Open Source • Has GIS extension that provides support for vector and raster data integration.

16. Possible Space Syntax Software Solutions: • UCL Depthmap • Standalone product. • Able to import geometry of environment and export space syntax results into MapInfo or .DXF file format . • Confeego • Integrated with MapInfo. • Axwoman • Works as an extension within ArcGIS (Originally for ArcView 3, but latest release works within ArcGIS10). • Others include Syntax2D, Place Syntax Tool, Segmen • Currently, External software provide more robust analysis and documentation than any GIS-based Space Syntax solutions.

17. Process: ArcGIS • Agent-Based Model: • Used to model scenarios of pedestrian movement through the air show space • Space Syntax: • Used to characterize the layout of the air show space and explain the movement shown in the Agent-Based Model. 2011 Air Show GIS Layout Export Layout Export Layout UCL Depthmap NetLogo ABM Simulation Visibility Graph Analysis • Pedestrian Flow • Simulated gate counts • Integration Values • Connectivity

18. Process: -Integration Values -Integration Values -Integration Values -Integration Values Perform Space Syntax Analysis Perform Space Syntax Analysis Perform Space Syntax Analysis Perform Space Syntax Analysis 2008 2009 2011 ALT -Connectivity -Connectivity -Connectivity -Connectivity Perform ABM Simulation Perform ABM Simulation Perform ABM Simulation Perform ABM Simulation -Pedestrian Flow Model -Pedestrian Flow Model -Pedestrian Flow Model -Pedestrian Flow Model Change in Integration/Connectivity & Model Change in Integration/Connectivity & Model Find Correlations Change in Integration/Connectivity & Model

19. Conference Presentation / Project Timeline • 7th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2012) • September 18-21, 2012 • Deadline for Extended Abstract Submittal : • May 4, 2012

20. Questions?