A Three-Dimensional Evacuation Simulation Using Digital Human Models With Precise Kinematic Joints

Abstract

Disaster drills are important for minimizing the damage caused by earthquakes, floods, and fires. Therefore, mass-evacuation drills are considered to be an important obligation of schools and workplaces that employ several individuals. Moreover, for the validation of drill effectiveness as well as disaster prevention, the significance of mass-evacuation simulation has increased.In the present paper, a three-dimensional mass-evacuation simulation is first explained. The developed multi-agent-based simulation with a detailed three-dimensional building infrastructure uses a kinematic digital human (KDH) model with precise human joints. Simulation of a mass-evacuation drill by high-school students agrees well with the results of actual drills. In addition, considering the transportation of badly injured persons during disasters, digital human motion sets of patients, and transporters have been developed for critical evacuation simulation. Several examples have revealed the possibility of applying the extended simulation to evacuation from houses and hospitals.