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Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2005 pp 481–495Cite as

From Ant Trails to Pedestrian Dynamics — Learning from Nature

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Abstract

Many insects like, for example, ants communicate via chemical signals. This process, called chemotaxis, allows them to build large trail systems which have many similarities with human transport networks. In order to investigate the dynamics and spatio-temporal organization of ants on an existing trail system we have proposed a stochastic cellular automaton model. In contrast to the situation in highway traffic, it predicts a non-monotonic speed-density relation. This effect has its origin in the formation of loose clusters, i.e. space regions of enhanced, but not maximal, density. Inspired by the behaviour of ants on their trails, we have also developed a model for pedestrian dynamics. In this approach the interaction between the pedestrians is implemented as “virtual chemotaxis”. In this way all interactions are strictly local and so even large crowds can be simulated very efficiently. In addition, the model is able to reproduce the empirically observed collective effects, e.g. the formation of lanes in counterflow.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität zu Köln, 50937, Köln, Germany

    A. Schadschneider

  2. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208016, India

    D. Chowdhury

  3. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    K. Nishinari

Authors
  1. A. Schadschneider
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  2. D. Chowdhury
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  3. K. Nishinari
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ingenieurbüro WALDAU, Sickenberggasse 13/3, 1190, Wien, Austria

    Nathalie Waldau

  2. Österreichisches Institut für Schul- und Sportstättenbau, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 12, 1040, Wien, Austria

    Peter Gattermann

  3. Institut für Verkehrsplanung und Verkehrstechnik, Technische Universität Wien, Gußhausstraße 30/231, 1040, Wien, Austria

    Hermann Knoflacher

  4. Physik von Transport und Verkehr, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 1, 47048, Duisburg, Germany

    Michael Schreckenberg

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Schadschneider, A., Chowdhury, D., Nishinari, K. (2007). From Ant Trails to Pedestrian Dynamics — Learning from Nature. In: Waldau, N., Gattermann, P., Knoflacher, H., Schreckenberg, M. (eds) Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2005. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-47064-9_46

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