The IMPACT project has investigated crowd behaviour in emergencies. It has a special focus on cross-cultural differences in crowd behaviour.
The project investigated a varied literature. Among many other outputs, it focuses on agent-based modelling of crowd behaviour, thus creating a virtual laboratory.
The IMPACT final event takes place in Rome on 21 September 2017.
Gert Jan was told by the IMPACT workers that the theory on cross-cultural crowd behaviour is still patchy. Being a biologist, he decided to get inspiration from bird flock models, and try to adapt those to culture.
Gert Jan will present an agent-based model he created that allows to vary important parameters. These include percentage of people knowing the exit, and parameters of interpersonal distance for in-group and out-group others.