En modell av det inledande utrymningsförloppet

The purpose of the present study was to develop a new model of the initial part of an evacuation process, i.e., the pre-movement phase. A new method for estimating the pre-movement time was also going to be proposed. In the initial part of the study an inventory of existing models of human behaviour during fire evacuation was performed. This was followed by a literature review about helping behaviour and social influence. A new model was then developed based on an existing model of the intervention process in case of emergency. The new model divides the initial part of an evacuation into stages. Each stage must be passed before an individual can start to evacuate. A new method for estimating the pre-movement time was also developed in the study. The method treats evacuees as agents in a complex adaptive system. Each agent is influenced by and influences his neighbours. If an agent starts to respond he will be observed by others and influence them to respond