Modeling Pedestrians Flow on Stairways in Shanghai Metro Transfer Station

Wusheng Liu, Heping Zhou, Qichao He

Changsha University of Science & Technology
lwusheng@163.com


Abstract

By the investigation to the characteristics of
Pedestrians flow on stairways in some main
Pedestrians distributing centers, such as the Shanghai
Chifeng Road Light Orbit Station, Shanghai People's
Square Subway Station and the Shanghai train station
and so on, and on the basis of the investigation data
above, the fundamental characteristics of Pedestrians
flow in transfer station are found by qualitative
analysis, the form of function about density-velocity
and density-flow rate of Pedestrians flow on stairways
is confirmed, then fitting functions in term of
investigation data and ensuring parameters by using
software, such as Matlab, thus the functions of
Pedestrians flow in transfer stations are gained. By
comparing vehicles flow to Pedestrians flow on
stairways, Pedestrians flow on the walkways to
Pedestrians flow on stairways, the foreign related
researches to this thesis research, the models of
Pedestrians flow on stairways are suitable for transfer
stations in some big cities in china. It will offer
references and directions for improving capacity of
stairways, strengthening management with Pedestrians
flow and organizing effectively Pedestrians flow.

1. Introduction

Recently, the constantly improving level of China's
urbanization and the rapidly increasing urban
population have brought great burthen to the traffic in
city. So many researches about traffic problem are
developed widely, especially the researches about
vehicles flow have been arrived many achievements.
But the researches about Pedestrians flow is few, and
these researches focus on Pedestrians flow on
walkways and neglect Pedestrians flow on stairways,
especially in Transfer Station, the researches is very
important to organize traffic flow.
In other countries, some researchers have been
studied the characteristics of pedestrians flow, in 1958
Hankin, in 1971 Fruin and in 1988 Ando analyzed the
relations between density-velocity and density-flow
rate by investigating to commuters on walkways. In
1969, Predtechen Skii&Milinskii studied on the
characteristics of pedestrians flow under emergency
conditions and normal conditions, and draw curves
about density-velocity and density-flow.
Domestic, such as the Nanking university, is just to
give some empirical relations and verification of the
relation between the velocity and density of the
walkways, and also some aim at the characteristic
analysis of the flee for life pedestrian flow in the
building under a fire circumstance, or the adoption
dynamics analysis to deduce the building urgent
evacuation relation between the velocity and density.
Currently, there arent still any characteristic
inquisition analyses to pedestrians flow on stairways.
In order to find out the characteristics of Pedestrians
flow on stairways in transfer stations, in July 2006, in
some large Pedestrians distributing centers such as the
Shanghai Chifeng Road Light Orbit Station, Shanghai
People's Square Subway Station and the Hanghai train
station and so on, large numbers of data about
Pedestrians flow on stairways have been gained by
investigating in lots of period of time. Based on
analysis to specimens, the characteristics of
Pedestrians flow on stairways in transfer stations are
made clear, and some models about Pedestrians flow
on stairways are built. These will serve for Pedestrians
organization optimization in transfer stations.

2. The Qualitative Analysis on Pedestrians
Flow on Stairways in Transformations
Station

2.1 The stairs pedestrian velocity and density
relation

This investigates obtain 177 records of down-
stairways pedestrian flow, among them, 123 of the
Chifeng road station,22 of people's square station,32 of
shanghai train station, the analysis mainly adopts the
data of the Chifeng road station. It also obtains 452
observation data records of up-stairways pedestrian
2008 International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation
978-0-7695-3357-5/08 $25.00 2008 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ICICTA.2008.460
263

http://www.paper.edu.cn

flow, among them, 431 of people's square station, and
21 of shanghai train station. According to the validity
analysis of the date, we select 344 records among them
to carry on the regulation analysis. The following
figure shows the relation of the velocity and density in
three investigates spot.
the relationship between pedestrian velocity and density
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00
density(p/m
2
)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y
(
m
/
m
i
n
)

Figure 1 scatterplot about down-stairways
velocity ~ density relationship of Chifeng
road, people's square and train stations
the relationship between pedestrian volecity and density
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50
density(p/m
2
)
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y
(
m
/
m
i
n
)

Figure 2 scatterplot about up-stairways
velocity ~ density relationship of Chifeng
road, people's squares and train station
From the Figure 1 we can see, when the density
smaller than 0.334 p/m2, most of down-stairway
velocity would decrease fleetly along with the density
increasing. It says that the affection of the pedestrian
velocity to the density is more obviously when
observing down-stairways, especially in the initial
stage that the density starts enlarge particularly, but
when the density is bigger than 0.334 p/m2, the
velocity of down-stairways decreasing equably along
with the density increasing, but the range is smaller
than the level of walkways. The relationship of density
and velocity of up-stairways flow is basically similar to
the down-stairways flow, its velocity decrease along
with the pedestrian density increasing, but under the
same density, the velocity of down-stairways descends
faster than the velocity of up-stairways, that is because
that frequency of step of the down-stairways pedestrian
is usually quicker than the frequency of up-stairways
pedestrian, and the step of pedestrian is consistent in
the stairs, so the velocity of down-stairways is bigger.

2.2 The stairs pedestrian flow rate and density
relation

According to the calculation of the flow rate,
density and velocity relation, we can get the relation of
the flow rate and density, its scatter plot diagram is as
follows:
the relationship between pedestrian flow rate and density
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00
density(p/m
2
)
f
l
o
w

r
a
t
e
(
p
/
m
i
n
/
m
)

Figure 3 scatterplot about down-stairways
flow rate ~ density relationship of Chifeng
road, people's square, train stations
the relationship between pedestrian flow rate and density
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50
density(p/m
2
)
f
l
o
w

r
a
t
e
(
p
/
m
i
n
/
m
)

Figure 4 scatterplot about up-stairways flow
rate ~ density relationship of Chifeng road,
people's square, train stations
According to the top diagrams, we can get to see,
along with the increment of the pedestrian flows
density, the up-stairways and down-stairways
pedestrian flows velocity goes a gradual increment, but
when the density increases to some degree, the up-
stairways and down-stairways pedestrian flows
velocity will appear a trend for descend, this number is
the optimum density that the stairs pedestrian go
through. Under this density, the stairs has the biggest
flows rate, and the biggest capacity i.e. According to
two diagrams of top, the optimum density of the down-
stairways pedestrian is
2
1
/ 25 . 2 m m = , the optimum
density of the up-stairways pedestrian
is
2
2
/ 27 . 2 m m = , we can see, the optimum density
of the up-stairways and down-stairways is basically
consistent, but generally speaking, the optimum
density of down-stairways pedestrian is smaller than
the up-stairways pedestrian density, its mainly
because density has more affection to the down-
stairways pedestrian velocity. At the same time, we can
see, under the condition of same density, the flow rate
264
http://www.paper.edu.cn
of down-stairways is bigger than the flow rate of up-
stairways; its mainly because that under the same
density, the down-stairways velocity is usually bigger
than up-stairways velocity.

3. Building models on pedestrians flow on
stairways

Pedestrian flow has the common characteristics
with traffic flow, but it also takes on some obvious
characteristics that are different form traffic flow. So
the analyses to the characteristics of pedestrian flow
must be reified. Next step, the models on pedestrian
stairway will be built as the different density of
pedestrian flow. Under the crowd density
(
4 . 0 2 . 6 5 . 0 2 . 6 downstairs upstairs
), the
pedestrian flow on stairway has some different
characteristics from the walkways, such as:
on the walkways, the route of pedestrian isnt as
inerratic as the stairway and the walk of pedestrian also
isnt restricted in some conditions, so pedestrians can
choose alterable velocity arbitrarily and stay alterable
place. But on stairway the pedestrians velocity will be
affected greatly by velocity of the front pedestrians,
generally they cant surpass the front pedestrians,
which is similar with vehicle flow.
The following rule on stairway is obvious: the
characteristics of stairway qualify the pedestrians
velocity that is only related with step frequency and
have nothing to do with step. So in crowd density the
pedestrians on stairway follow closely their front
people, which is similar with car-following
phenomenon.
The velocity of Pedestrians on the walkways
subjected to the individual characteristics, but in crowd
density pedestrians velocity on stairway sometimes is
a kind of colony behavior.

3.1 The function about flow rate ( f )-density
( ) on stairway

According to traffic flow theory, we can draw a
function about flow rate ( f )-density ( ) on
stairway:
2

j
f
f
V
V f =

Where:
=
f
V
the velocity under free density
=
j
Jam density
The equation above can abbreviate:
3 2
2
1
a a a f + + =
By simulating with Matlab software, the curve can
be gained, as following:

Figure5 the function relation between flow rate
and density on stairways
Therefore, the equations about flow rate ( f )-
density ( ) on upstairs pedestrians and downstairs
pedestrians
052 . 0 76 . 0 13 . 0
2
+ + =
upstairs
f
09 . 0 93 . 0 16 . 0
2
+ =
downstairs
f
Analyses to the two equations above, the constant
should be 0 while the value of the constant is 0.052 and
-0.09 which can be ignored, the rest may be deduced
by analogy, we can conclude:
Upstairs:
j f
V / 0.13
The velocity under free density: 76 . 0
'
=
f
V m/s
Jam density:
2 '
/ 85 . 5 13 . 0 / 76 . 0 m p
j
= =
s m V
f
/ 76 . 0
'
= And
2 '
/ 85 . 5 m p
j
= are
accords with analyses above. In the same way, we can
conclude
' '
'
j
V and
' '
j
of downstairs pedestrians:
s m V
j
/ 93 . 0
' '
'
=

2 ' '
/ 81 . 5 16 . 0 / 93 . 0 m p
j
= =
s m V
j
/ 93 . 0
' '
'
= And
2 ' '
/ 81 . 5 m p
j
= also are
accords with the analyses above, which testified that
the functions are identical with the fact. And we can
conclude the optimal density on stairway is:
Upstairs:
2 '
0
/ 3 m p
ptimal
=
Downstairs:
2 ' '
/ 45 . 2 m p
optimal
=

3.2 The function about velocity ( V )-density
( ) on stairway

According to the traffic flow theory that Green
shields put forward:
265
http://www.paper.edu.cn

=
j
f
V V

1
Analogously, The equation about velocity ( V )-
density ( ) on stairway is:

2 1
a a V + =
Similarly by simulating with Matlab software, the
curve can be gained, as following:

Figure6 the function relation between velocity
and density on stairways
The equation about velocity (V )-density ( ) on
upstairs pedestrians and downstairs pedestrians
85 . 0 -0.16 + =
upstairs
V
86 . 0 -0.14 + =
downstairs
V
By analogy, the equation as:
Upstairs:
j f
V / 0.16
The velocity under free density: 85 . 0
'
=
f
V m/s
Jam density:
2 '
/ 4 . 5 16 . 0 / 86 . 0 m p
j
= =
In the same way, we can conclude
' '
'
j
V and
' '
j
of
downstairs pedestrians:
s m V
j
/ 86 . 0
' '
'
=
2 ' '
/ 12 . 6 14 . 0 / 86 . 0 m p
j
= =
To upstairs pedestrians: 85 . 0 76 . 0
'
=
f
V m/s
2 '
/ 4 . 5 85 . 5 m p
j
=
To downstairs pedestrians:
s m V
j
/ 86 . 0 93 . 0
' '
'
=

2 ' '
/ 12 . 6 82 . 5 m p
j
=
On upstairs and downstairs pedestrians flow, we can
find the data is consistent, so the equations can reflect
the characteristics of pedestrians flow on stairway.

4. Summary and conclusions

By investigating to passenger flows on stairways in
Shanghai metro transfer station, large numbers of data
have been gained, after analyzing these data, the thesis
concluded some qualitative characteristics of Passenger
Flows on Stairways in Shanghai Metro Transfer
Station, and built the models on upstairs and
downstairs passenger flows. Concluding the above
discussion, we may state the following:
(1) Under the same density, the velocity of
passenger on stairs is bigger than on walkways, and the
velocity of passenger downstairs is bigger than
upstairs.
(2) Under the little density,
upstairs:
2
/ 5 . 0 m p , downstairs:
2
/ 4 . 0 m p ,
passenger flow on stairway is free, the walking
velocity freely selected, passenger conflicts with others
unlikely. Furthermore, the velocity takes on normal
distribution; the average value is s m/ 82 . 0 which
normal velocity upstairs is.
(3) if
2
/ 2 . 6 m p , on stairway, the Pedestrians
cant walk, 0 = V ;
(4) if upstairs: 5 . 0 2 . 6 > , downstairs:
4 . 0 2 . 6 > ,the equations of V and f
of Pedestrians flow on stairway is quadratic equation,
as the following:
052 . 0 76 . 0 13 . 0
2
+ + =
upstairs
f
09 . 0 93 . 0 16 . 0
2
+ =
downstairs
f
85 . 0 -0.16 + =
upstairs
V
86 . 0 -0.14 + =
downstairs
V
And according to the equations, we conclude the
optimal density of Passenger Flows on Stairways in
Shanghai Metro Transfer Station:
Upstairs:
2 '
0
/ 3 m p
ptimal
=
Downstairs:
2 ' '
/ 45 . 2 m p
optimal
=






References

[1] Fruin J, "Pedestrian Planning and Design", Metropolitan
Association of Urban Designers and Environmental Planners,
New York, 1971,pp12-18.

[2] Predtechenskii V.M. and Milinskii, A.I., "Planning for
Foot Traffic Flow in Buildings" Amerind Publishing
Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi, translated from original publication
in Russian, 1978, pp25-32.

266
http://www.paper.edu.cn
[3] Thompson, "Simulex: simulated people have needs too",
Fire Safety Journal 22 (1996), pp 111-123.

[4] Ando, K., Ota, H. and Oki, T, "Forecasting the Flow of
People", (in Japanese), R.R.R. Railway Research Review,
(45) 8, 1988, pp 8-14.

[5] Hankins, B.D. and Wright, R.A., 1958, "Passenger Flows
in Subways", Operational Research Quarterly, Vol. 9, pp 81-
88.

[6] Xu Gao, Computer simulation study on personnel
evacuating in metro station, Modern Tunneling Technology,
Vol. 40, No. 2, Apr. 2003.



267
http://www.paper.edu.cn