Agent Perception Modeling for Movement in Crowds

This paper explores the integration of a perception map to an agent based model simulated on a realistic physical space. Each agent’s perception map stores density information about the physical space which is used for routing. The scenario considered is the evacuation of a space given a crowd. Through agent interactions, both in physical proximity and through distant communications, agents update their perception maps and continuously work to overcome their incomplete perception of the world. Overall, this work aims at investigating the dynamics of agent information diffusion for emergency scenarios and combines three general elements: (1) an agent-based simulation of crowd dynamics in an emergency scenario over a real physical space, (2) a sophisticated decision making process driven by the agent’s subjective view of the world and effected by trust, belief and confidence, and (3) agent’s activity aimed at building relationships with specific peers that is based on mutual benefit from sharing information.