Modeling — Egress
People Movement and Simulation
To ensure that structures are safe, we need to understand how people make use of them, especially during times of emergency.
HAI provides clients with insight into people movement and how it changes with modifications to the structure, operational procedures and environmental conditions.
HAI does this by employing expert analysis, engineering analysis and computational simulation. HAI uses sophisticated egress modeling tools to aid expert analysis.
What is involved?
In consultation with the client, the engineer devises a set of scenarios to answer specific questions (e.g., how long will it take to evacuate my shopping mall). The engineer can then make a detailed performance assessment of the structure and of the conditions experienced by the evacuees, under different scenario conditions.
Where can this be applied?
This expertise enables the examination of alternative architectural designs, procedural strategies, security activities, daily operations of a structure, emergency preparedness, the development of training and education activities, scrutinizing third-party calculations and compliance assessment. This analysis can be applied to a wide range of structures: residential, assembly, business, military, educational, industrial, etc. Indeed, any structure where the movement of people is a concern.
How HAI examines People Movement
What is the value to the client?
HAI can identify what the critical events are and when, why and where they occur. This allows us to produce general results (e.g., the time to evacuate the building, whether the exit usage is acceptable, etc.) and report specific conditions (e.g., the time spent in congestion at the main exit).
This information can be presented using numerical, descriptive and graphical (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) results. HAI can then provide results to the client that identify issues and suggest remedies.
This analysis may be employed during design, construction, and throughout the operational life of a building. The evaluation process can prevent an event occurring, manage an existing condition or investigate an event after it has occurred.
Through the use of sophisticated tools we are able to support our expertise and provide solutions tailored to the client in a reliable, unambiguous and cost effective manner.
Selected Project Examples
The Fire Protection Research Foundation (Massachusetts) — HAI developed an analytical framework and conducted field experiments in order to investigate the effectiveness of notification technologies.
Mall of Americas (Minnesota) — HAI used simulation models to establish whether modifications to the building's design influenced egress performance.
Metro WasteWater Reclamation District (Colorado) — HAI employed both expert analysis and simulation models to understand the current situation and to aid in the design of emergency procedures in response to identified hazard scenarios.
For more information contact:
Steven M.V. Gwynne
sgwynne@haifire.com
303-444-0974
