Architects and engineers need to consider how people will move through their designs – how they will interact with the environment and with each other; and how they will utilise the spaces provided for them. Crowd circulation modelling enables designers to assess the suitability of their proposals in relation to crowd congestion, safety and management.
 
Through the forecasting of movement and activity patterns, Buro Happold’s people movement consultancy provides the design team with quantitative results they can use to reduce crowding at entrances and exits, on stairs and in corridors. As well as enhancing people comfort and safe navigation, modelling can maximise retail potential by revealing the effect of design changes on footfall and shopping patterns.

Surveys can also be carried out to help clients better understand existing visitor activity and preferences. The information is then used to optimise management strategies and to advise clients on potential building improvements. The approach greatly aids the provision of adequate counter measures to negative factors such as distance, access, fear of crime, poor parking facilities and signage.

Our crowd flow management capability has been applied to optimise circulation in public places as diverse as sports arenas and hospitals, schools, museums and shopping centres. As well as enabling more user-friendly and comfortable buildings, people flow analysis is also a vital element in fire engineering design – 3D computer models are used to predict crowd behaviour in emergencies and to design smooth evacuation procedures.