Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 378
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30312-y

Regular Article

Effects of communication and utility-based decision making in a simple model of evacuation

Theoretical Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, M139 PL Manchester, UK

^a e-mail: tobias.galla@manchester.ac.uk

Received: 11 April 2012
Received in final form: 2 August 2012
Published online: 22 November 2012

Abstract

We present a simple cellular automaton based model of decision making during evacuation. Evacuees have to choose between two different exit routes, resulting in a strategic decision making problem. Agents take their decisions based on utility functions, these can be revised as the evacuation proceeds, leading to complex interaction between individuals and to jamming transitions. The model also includes the possibility to communicate and exchange information with distant agents, information received may affect the decision of agents. We show that under a wider range of evacuation scenarios performance of the model system as a whole is optimal at an intermediate fraction of evacuees with access to communication.