Faster-than-real-time Simulation of Multi-group Pedestrian Flow

¹ ZHAW, Institute of Computational Physics, Technikumstrasse 71, CH-8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
² HTWG Konstanz, Dept. Computer Science, Alfred-Wachtel-Straße 8, D-78462 Konstanz, Germany

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Published online: 12 September 2025

Abstract

Simulations of pedestrian flow are widely used for design guidelines during the planning of buildings and large events. In this article we discuss how faster-than-real-time simulations of pedestrian flow can contribute to dynamic control strategies of the crowd in order to ensure safety live during an event. For this purpose we present a continuous model for multi-group pedestrian flow. The model consists of the continuity equation for the density of pedestrians and a Helmholtz type equation providing the fastest path to the exit. It is derived by regularizing Hughes’ macroscopic model for pedestrian flow and is solved using the finite element method, which enables simulations at short runtimes. The model allows the definition of multiple groups with different fundamental diagrams or destination preferences. We show that this model is able to reproduce qualitatively the expected behavior of crossing pedestrian crowds. Its main advantage is its simulation speed, making it ideal for real-time crowd management at large events.