Dynamic cell transmission-based pedestrian model with multidirectional flows and strategic route choices

This paper proposes a framework for a dynamic pedestrian model with a strategic route choice model and multidirectional flow propagation. In an open urban area, a massive number of possible pedestrian paths can be defined. However, psychologically the pedestrian does not consider all these paths as distinct options. Thus, this paper assumes the pedestrian chooses a series of consecutive subareas to traverse in the first instance. Then, the model allocates the actual flows on each detailed route on the basis of an assumption of dynamic user optimum. Combining these two stages, the model assumes a hierarchical decision of pedestrians' route choice. A modified cell transmission model (CTM) is adopted to represent the physical phenomena of dynamic propagation of the pedestrian flows. A key difference from the original CTM is that the pedestrian flow is multidirectional by nature. This paper proposes a modified CTM to consider the multidirectional movement. The proposed modified CTM is then assessed with a test case.