Analysis of “Faster is Slower” Effect on Panic Evacuation with Anthropometric Measurements

Abstract

Panic evacuation, also known as mass panic or stampede, refers to a situation in which a large group of people react with fear and rush to escape a perceived threat, often resulting in chaos, injuries and sometimes death. The "faster is slower" effect is a phenomenon related to the fact that acting quickly in a panic will have slower consequences. It is used to explain the negative consequences of uncoordinated action by a panicking crowd. This makes crowd evacuation inefficient. Calm and controlled movements can ensure a safe exit. Anthropometry is the science that deals with the measurement and dimensions of the human body, and this information can provide insight into people's mobility and behavior in crowded places or emergency situations. The force generated by each individual in these situations is different. Therefore, it can be studied separately. In this study, the relationship between anthropometric characteristics of humans and the "fast is slower" effect was investigated. 19% difference in evacuation time was found between simulation experiments with and without anthropometric characteristics. These results are important for understanding human behavior in emergency situations and developing effective response strategies in these situations. In addition, these findings can contribute to practical applications to understand how anthropometric factors affect certain skills and to create more effective building evacuation plans considering individual differences.

Keywords

• anthropometry
• crowd dynamics
• faster is slower
• panic evacuation
• social force model