AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE EVACUATION DESIGNS OF MEGA SPORTING EVENT (MSE) FACILITIES AND STADIUMS USING 3D AGENT-BASED CROWD SIMULATION AND MODELING

Abstract

Mega Sporting Event (MSE) facilities, from ancient arenas to modern stadiums, are crucial for large-scale human gatherings. These venues, often accommodating tens of thousands, necessitate sophisticated design to ensure attendee safety. Historical tragedies highlight the critical importance of robust evacuation systems. Despite advancements, comprehensive comparative studies on the evacuation efficiency of different design elements in MSE facilities are limited. This study compares two use cases in three phases-Design Analysis, Evacuation Performance Metrics, and Agent-Based Crowd Simulation. This research identified that placing the lower tier below ground level and connecting directly to the ground level has the highest difference in evacuation times. This was followed by a higher number of narrower vomitories instead of fewer wider ones; this significantly reduced evacuation times by distributing evacuees more evenly and minimizing queuing. Further insights include the critical connection between gangways and vomitories and the overlooked advantages and disadvantages of ramps in existing literature when juxtaposed with stairs. These results underscore the vital role of architectural considerations in improving public safety at large-scale events. By bridging gaps in current research, our study offers actionable insights for architects and policy-makers to optimize MSE facility designs for safety and efficiency. This research integrates modern simulation tools with traditional design principles, paving the way for safer and more effective evacuations in future large-scale events.