VALIDATION OF MICROSCOPIC DYNAMICS OF GROUPING PEDESTRIANS BEHAVIOR: FROM OBSERVATION TO MODELING AND SIMULATION

The aim of this paper is to highlight the role of computer-based study in modeling and simulating the dynamical behavior of pedestrians grouping behavior or a phenomenon of pedestrians walk in group due to social ties. For the purpose of modeling and simulation validation, the results of field observations were reported in this paper. The existing simulator, namely Distinct Element Method (DEM)-based Multi-agent model (DEM-based model) was utilized and modified in this study. The modification was made by introducing two new terms of interaction forces which define the grouping behavior. Validation on the modified DEM-based model (DEM-based with grouping behavior model) was performed in two phases; (1) looking for suitable grouping scenarios from the footage of observations conducted; and (2) simulating suitable scenarios in (1). It shows that DEM-based with grouping behavior model can realistically simulate grouping behavior in a crowd.