A Review of Building Evacuation Models - NIST Virtual Library

Import CAD drawings: No. Nodes and arcs are input into the Egress Complexity Model.
Visualization capabilities: None.
Validation studies: A validation study was performed which compared the Egress Complexity
Model results of complexity to EVACNET+ results. The study used a network of nodes and arcs
to represent a building with one fixed exit and one exit which would vary positions. The
comparison consisted of improvements shown by each model (Egress Complexity would show a
reduction in complexity and EVACNET+ would show a decrease in time period and an increase
in flow of occupants to exits) with varying placement of the second exit. Differences in
improvements were found for certain positions of a second exit between the two models.
Special features:
Manual exit block/obstacles – No, but this was an area of improvement. It is not clear if this
feature has been added (by simulating locked doors).
Disabilities/slow occupant groups – No, all evacuees are able-bodied, but this topic was listed
as an area of improvement that the model can be extended to cater for.
Route choice of the occupants/occupant distribution – An assumption used is that the building
contains only one exit, but an improvement listed to the model was to increase the buildings to
more than one exit (which gives multiple routes to the occupants).
Limitations: One limitation is the assumptions made by the model. This is not a traditional
evacuation model, but instead a model used to measure the complexity of the structure from an
evacuation point of view.
A-77