title: Coarse-grained particle model for pedestrian flow using diffusion maps.
abstract: Interacting particle systems constitute the dynamic model of choice in a variety of application areas. A prominent example is pedestrian dynamics, where good design of escape routes for large buildings and public areas can improve evacuation in emergency situations, avoiding exit blocking and the ensuing panic. Here we employ diffusion maps to study the coarse-grained dynamics of two pedestrian crowds trying to pass through a door from opposite sides. These macroscopic variables and the associated smooth embeddings lead to a better description and a clearer understanding of the nature of the transition to oscillatory dynamics. We also compare the results to those obtained through intuitively chosen macroscopic variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Matematiktorvet 303B, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marschler
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Matematiktorvet 303B, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Starke
authors.affiliation: Department for Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department for Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kevrekidis