Analyzing emergency evacuation scenarios in Ghana based on different groups profiles in a classroom

Abstract

It depends on both the pedestrians and the building whether they can be evacuated from a building safely and quickly in any situation. Understanding pedestrian behavior is crucial when designing buildings for safe evacuation in emergencies like earthquakes and fires. Since this topic has yet to be fully explored in Ghana, we conducted experiments in a classroom to capture the characteristics of pedestrian movements during an emergency. In this experimental study, students were asked to pretend to evacuate during an emergency. The simulation and comparison of the evacuation of students from a classroom were conducted using a multi-grid model in our study. The study examines several factors that influence evacuation characteristics. These factors include pedestrian density, speed, time, door width, body mass index, and classroom capacity. The paper describes in detail all study phases, including planning, preliminary work, observational studies, empirical data collection, and statistical analysis. It thoroughly examines pre-movement time, group density, and velocities for groups and individuals moving through doorways, traveling distances, and walking in educational settings. A person’s state of mind and psychological abilities are also taken into account, as well as their level of emotional involvement in the movement. The obtained results are also discussed for evacuation planning in educational institutions under different conditions.

Keywords:

• Classroom
• characteristics
• pedestrians
• speed
• time
• and education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

No known conflicts of interest are associated with this publication, and no significant financial support has been provided that could have affected the results.

Intellectual property

Regarding intellectual property protection, we confirm that we have given due consideration to protecting this work and that there are no impediments to publication. As a result, we confirm that we have complied with the intellectual property regulations of our institutions.

Research ethics

In addition, any work covered in this manuscript that involves students, pedestrians, and types of equipment has been approved ethically by all relevant bodies, and such approvals are acknowledged within the document.

Authorship

All authors developed the study concept and design. Nashiru Mumuni Daniel Bilintoh and Rehmat Karim performed data collection and testing. The data analysis was performed by Nashiru Mumuni Daniel Bilintoh and supported by Rehmat Karim and Warda Rafaqat. All authors did an interpretation of the data. Prof. Jun Zhang (supervisor) provided critical revisions to the manuscript, which Nashiru Mumuni Daniel Bilintoh drafted. This manuscript has been approved for submission by all authors.

Additional information

Funding

This publication acknowledges all sources of funding for the work described:The authors acknowledge the foundation support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U1933105, 72174189) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. WK2320000043, WK2320000050).