Comparison of Evacuation Times Using Simulex and EvacuatioNZ Based on Trial Evacuations

The purpose of this research is to assist in the development of EvacuatioNZ. EvacuatioNZ is a course network, risk assessment evacuation model that is currently under development at the University of Canterbury. Previous research has been done on the flow mechanics of the model and has shown satisfactory results. This research validates several components of human behaviour in the model and compares the model with the actual trial evacuations. The new features of human behavioural aspects are the pre-movement time and the choice of exit. A second commercially available evacuation model, Simulex, is used as a comparison. Two evacuation simulations are considered in this report: the trial evacuations at an industrial site carried out in 2002 and at a lecture theatre studied by Kimura and Sime (1989). Results from the two evacuation simulations show that Simulex has a faster flow rate and a quicker evacuation time, and EvacuatioNZ results gave a more accurate representation of the actual events. The two evacuations also show that the pre-movement time is an important factor to the overall evacuation time. EvacuatioNZ is currently unable to model a lecture theatre or setting similar to it accurately as a single node. Further research should be done on the model so that it can take into account the complexity of the room setting. The current version of EvacuatioNZ (Version 1.01) can be used for design purposes under certain circumstances. However, users must know the limitations of the evacuation model and proceed with care