The impact of counter-flow on pedestrian walking times

Exploiting the full potential of pedestrian infrastructures is becoming vital in many environments which cannot be easily expanded to cope with the increasing demand. This is particularly true of train stations in many dense cities since space is limited. One solution to improve the level-of-service experienced by pedestrians is to regulate and control their movements with a dynamic traffic management system. In order to develop and test pedestrian specific control strategies a simulation laboratory is implemented. This numerical environment allows the validation of two control strategies dedicated to pedestrian dynamics: gating and flow separators. The effectiveness of these strategies has been investigated firstly by using a proof-of-concept setup to explore the sensitivity to some parameters, and secondly by simulating a subpart of the train station in Lausanne (Switzerland). Both strategies achieve their respective goals by preventing excessive congestion and decreasing the pedestrian's walking times.

Modeling and estimation of pedestrian flows in train stations

Flurin Silvan Hänseler

This thesis addresses two modeling problems related to pedestrian flows in train stations, namely that of estimating pedestrian origin-destination demand in rail access facilities, and that of describing the propagation of pedestrians in walking facilities. For both problems, a mathematical framework is developed at the aggregate level, describing pedestrians in terms of groups with the same departure time, origin and destination. The proposed demand estimator is probabilistic and accounts for within-day dynamics as well as for natural fluctuations across days. It is inspired by estimation methodologies that are used in the context of vehicular traffic. Critically, the proposed methodology takes the train timetable and ridership data into account, significantly improving the accuracy of the estimates. Other information sources, such as link flows or sales data, can also be incorporated. To describe the propagation of pedestrians, walkable space is considered as a network of pedestrian streams that interact locally. Based on the continuum theory for pedestrian flow and the cell transmission model, a computationally efficient model is obtained that can be used under a wide range of traffic conditions. An optional extension allows considering anisotropic flow, where the walking speed depends on the walking direction. Such a formulation is advantageous in particular at high densities. Throughout the thesis, a case study of Lausanne railway station is considered. A detailed discussion of the usage and level-of-service of its rail access facilities is provided, underlining the performance and practical applicability of the proposed modeling framework. The contribution of the thesis is fourfold. First, it provides a dedicated estimation methodology for pedestrian OD demand in train stations. Second, it proposes a novel macroscopic network loading model for congested and multi-directional pedestrian flows. Third, it presents a detailed case study of a Swiss train station, for which a rich data set is collected. Finally, it applies the aforementioned modeling framework to that case study, and provides practical guidance for its use in the planning and dimensioning of rail access facilities. Beyond train stations, the developed modeling framework can be readily applied to various other pedestrian facilities, such as airports, shopping malls, stadiums or urban walking areas. For instance, it may be used to support the organization, planning and design of such facilities, to safely and efficiently manage pedestrian flows using real-time monitoring and control, or to assess and optimize the safety both during normal use and in case of emergency.

EPFL2016

Two management strategies for improving passenger transfer experience in train stations

Michel Bierlaire, Nicholas Alan Molyneaux, Riccardo Scarinci

Exploiting the full potential of pedestrian infrastructures in order to satisfy the demand induced by public transport modes is key to achieving good level-of-service for passengers during transfers. High temporal variability in demand can lead to high congestion and possibly dangerous situations while the infrastructure is underused moments after. In order to improve the level-of-service experienced by pedestrians, two management strategies are investigated. Firstly, the utilization of gates to control the flows of passengers moving around the station is explored thanks to a PI control structure. Secondly, counter flow is minimized by dynamically adapting the space to the flows moving in opposing directions. This can be achieved by separating the corridor into two parts, one dedicated to each flow direction. The station of Lausanne, Switzerland is used as a case study for these strategies. Gating proved e ffi cient to limit congestion without significantly increasings the travel time of passengers. The expected results when separating counter flow are similar: an increase in comfort without negatively impacting travel time. Finally, the implementation of e ffi cient management strategies for pedestrians can significantly improve the transfer experience in transportation hubs by controlling the walking times between services.

2018

Modeling and estimation of pedestrian flows in train stations

Flurin Silvan Hänseler

EPFL2016