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Available online at

ScienceDirect
www.sciencedirect.com

Original article

Intelligent evacuation guidance systems for improving fire safety

of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural
characteristics
Gabriele Bernardini , Matteo Azzolini , Marco D’Orazio ∗ , Enrico Quagliarini
DICEA Dept, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via di Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Fire risk in Architectural Heritage represents a fundamental problem for occupants’ safety. Italian-style
Received 31 March 2016 historical theatres are one of the most interesting examples because of their historic and artistic value,
Accepted 22 June 2016 high fire vulnerability, fire sources and occupants’ features (many people are not familiar with the
Available online xxx
architectural spaces). Current fire safety regulations approaches for similar Architectural Heritage gen-
erally suggest massive and irreversible interventions in order to improve the occupants’ level of safety:
Keywords: main related solutions concern with interventions on building layout (e.g. introduction of fire-proof ele-
Building heritage safety
ments; increasing dimension and number of evacuation paths and exits). This really implies a conflict in
Historical theatres fire safety
Evacuation in historical buildings
preserving original architectural characteristics. Besides, experiments demonstrate how these adopted
Human behaviors in evacuation solutions can be insufficient in improving the individuals’ safety level, especially in case of high occu-
Reversible systems for human safety pants’ density and people who are unfamiliar with the building itself, because of individuals’ behaviours
Intelligent evacuation guidance systems in emergency conditions. An efficient emergency evacuation layout has to be able to help evacuating
occupants, especially in smoke or blackout conditions. “Intelligent Evacuation Guidance Systems” (IEGS)
could monitor human behaviours (how people move) and related criticisms in the evacuation process
(e.g. slowing down along paths, paths blockage). Then, they could elaborate these data through smart
inducing algorithm so as to suggest dynamic evacuation paths to occupants. In this way, IEGS can effec-
tively suggest the “best” evacuation path to occupants depending on the effective human behaviours. In
this paper, an IEGS is firstly defined by introducing suggested low impact environmental components and
their related requirements. In particular, occupants’ behaviours are associated to evacuees’ density along
egress paths, doors and exits, by using indoor individuals’ tracking systems (e.g. RFID, Wireless localiza-
tion). A density-based algorithm based on Level-of-Service conditions is adopted for evaluating possible
overcrowding phenomena and identify the best evacuation paths. Directional electrically-illumined signs
are used so as to indicate the proper direction to occupants. Wireless communication between the sys-
tem elements is required. Each element is provided with backup power supply. Then, the proposed
IEGS is evaluated by applying it to a significant case study (the “Gentile da Fabriano theatre” in Fabri-
ano, AN). Interactions between occupants and IEGS are reproduced within a validated fire evacuation
simulator (FDS + EVAC), and the system effectiveness is evaluated by performing evacuation simulation
for the whole building. Comparisons of evacuation times between the original scenario and the IEGS-
related one are proposed. Total maximum egress time is reduced down to 26% in the IEGS scenario
(40% for levels with 3 or more different possible paths). The number of people using secondary paths
(that are also the less crowded ones) raises to 88%. IEGS elements correctly and fully interact with peo-
ple by understanding their evacuation behaviour and suggesting them the most appropriate (clearest)
path: hence, the overall evacuation efficiency can be so increased by virtue of this “behavioural design”
approach. Besides, it is strongly important to underline how IEGS elements provide no architectural
modifications.
© 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 71 220 4578; fax: +39 71 220 4582.
E-mail addresses: [email protected] (M. D’Orazio), [email protected] (E. Quagliarini).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2016.06.008
1296-2074/© 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article in press as: G. Bernardini, et al., Intelligent evacuation guidance systems for improving fire safety
of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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1. Research aim This is mainly due to a lack of effective human behavioral aspects
while proposing risk-reduction solutions [1,3], as well as responses
Building heritage is affected by significant risk levels because of both not-disable/disable individuals and vulnerable occupants
of intrinsic features (structures vulnerability), presence of differ- [24–26].
ent hazards (e.g. fire sources; localization in earthquake or flood Previous works demonstrate how using wayfinding systems
prone areas), high exposure (mainly due to occupants’ density and can improve the occupants’ safety by suggesting people the evac-
characteristics; cultural and architectural value). Fire emergency uation path during the egress process and then reducing the
represents a significant topic, especially in case of wooden struc- required time [1,5,27,28]. Current regulations include similar sys-
tures and when occupants are unfamiliar with the building layout tems (including safe condition signs and exit signs [29,30]) in
(e.g. historical theatres). In these conditions, “correctly” evacuat- addition to the aforementioned layout solutions, by providing their
ing the building (in a short time, by using the proper path) widely characterization, positioning, distances between elements (e.g.
depends on individuals’ spaces perception, architectural layout and [31–33]). Signs systems can be distinguished: reflective [34], photo-
presence of adequate wayfinding systems. luminescent (PLM) [1,5,27], electrically-illumined [34], interactive
This work extends our previous researches on tools for indi- wayfinding systems and Intelligent Evacuation Guidance Systems
viduals’ risks evaluation in historical buildings and low-impact [35,36], acoustic wayfinding systems [37], individual portable
interventions design aimed at jointly increasing the safety level devices [38,39]. According to their possible interaction with the
for building occupants and preserving the original heritage fea- individuals, they can be “active” (or rather, “intelligent” [40]) or
tures [1]. These solutions are based on a “behavioral design” “passive” since they are able to suggest the evacuation direction
approach [2,3]: not-invasive solutions for occupants’ safety on depending on the surrounding environment conditions (e.g. pres-
the building heritage will be proposed where they are effectively ence of fire, smoke [36] or slowing down in evacuation motion
needed and by considering their effects on users. Thus, investiga- [35] along paths), or not (e.g. fix arrow direction on PLM signs
tions of man–environment interactions during the evacuation are [5,41]). The influence of “passive” signs on occupants’ evacuation
performed. Easy-to-apply building components can be designed was widely investigated by including real-world and virtual reality
so as to interact with evacuating pedestrians and introduce no experiments [5,28,42,43], and by applying them on Architectural
architectural modifications to the original building layout and Heritage [1].
features. “Intelligent” Evacuation Guidance Systems (IEGS), generally
Starting from this point of view, this study concerns with applied to new buildings, could represent a relevant frontier in
fire evacuation safety in significant historical buildings (histori- occupants’ evacuation solutions in Architectural Heritage. They
cal Italian-style theatre), and offers an evaluation about innovative are composed of a central evacuation guidance algorithm solver
concepts of emergency wayfinding systems. (e.g. a computer), the detecting (or measurement) devices and the
wayfinding and alarm signs (e.g. electrically-illumined, sound and
light alarm, personal devices) [35,38,41,44–46]. A complete review
2. Introduction
of these systems was previously offered [40].
The detecting devices acquire input for the central algorithm
Researches about individuals’ safety in buildings during a fire
solver, which uses “an intelligent inducing algorithm based on
[1,3–5] demonstrated how the occupants’ evacuation is widely
multi-parameters to get dynamic evacuation routes” (e.g. smoke,
influenced by behavioral aspects, architectural spaces features
human behavior, building layout) [35]. Some solutions do not
(including their layout) and evacuation wayfinding systems. Many
take into account human behaviors detection [45], while others
interferences affect the evacuation process especially in historical
include similar behavioral factors by detecting different quan-
building [1,6,7], where people move in mostly unfamiliar architec-
tities through several devices (e.g. wearable devices including
tural spaces and high occupants’ density are coupled with reduced
badges and Wi-Fi communications [39,41,47], environmental sen-
places [1,8,9].
sors for presence and/or motion [35,48] detection in relation
Individuals’ safety criteria are essentially founded on evacu-
to the environment dimension and of indoor/outdoor conditions
ating the building in the shortest time [4,10]. According to this
[35,41,49–52]). An overview of instruments for this purpose was
evidence and to “empirical” investigations about evacuation times
offered [48]. Behavioral aspects could surely increase the system
in different buildings [11,12], “traditional” approaches in current
effectiveness, especially where pedestrian density-related effects
regulations adopt a hydrodynamic point of view [13,14]. Hence,
are significant (e.g. narrow paths or complex layout, such as the
regulations generally establish:
one of building heritage). However, it is necessary that mea-
surement devices are (always) connected to the central solver in
• geometrical criteria for reducing the egress time, mainly limited
real time, so as to allow the system to collect data, elaborate by
to the increasing number and width of exits and the reduction of solving the guidance algorithm and return directional indications
traveling distances, e.g. between two exits [15–17], and by e.g. to signs.
introducing fire stairs, opening new doors/exits so as to increase Finally, the algorithm solution is sent to connected signs (“col-
their number/dimension; lective” ones, that are building components [35,45,53]; individual
• a minimum fire-resistance rating criterion (as a measure of time),
ones, including smartphone, for direct personal stimuli [38,39,41])
so as to limit the fire effect and spreading during the time, by e.g. so as to address the proper evacuation choice to individuals. Build-
defining different fire zones, building fire-proof walls. ing spaces are represented according to a wired system, composed
by nodes and links with different levels of related static (e.g. length,
Hence, Architectural Heritage highly suffers from this quite width, local hazard) and dynamic (the ones from input sensors)
fire safety schematic approach and is affected by several related characterizing data [38,46,53]. The main approaches about algo-
problems. Massive and invasive modifications to original building rithms for occupants’ guidance include basic (e.g. shortest path
heritage layout and features could be introduced to respect these [39,54], Dijkstra’s algorithm [38,53]) and advanced (e.g. detection
regulations, by also ignoring the minimal intervention criterion. of “traffic jam” by pedestrians’ density or other motion quanti-
Besides, many studies on real fire accidents [19–22] and experi- ties such as speed [35,38,44]). Comprehensive reviews of models
ments [1,9,23] underline how the majority of traditional solutions and algorithms that can be applied to similar evacuation problems
are not able to effectively increase the occupants’ safety level. are provided by previous literature works [55,56]. The efficiency

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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of these evacuation guidance systems is generally investigated problems connected to organization of a real-world evacuation
through simulation software [44,53], by demonstrating the impor- drill, creation of the IEGS and application to a case study [2,46].
tance of occupants’ density in the building and initial positions in
overall time reduction. Nevertheless, real world experiments [35] 3. Methods
evidence a high acceptance of IEGS by evacuees in terms of signs
and directional information perception and use, also in smoke con- This work is divided into three main phases (in round brackets,
ditions. In some experimental drills with thousands of people [35], a sections about the phase descriptions [P] and the related results [R]
total reduction of evacuation time of about –25% in case of short dis- are summarized):
tance between exit signs along the path (≤ 3 m). A limited number
of commercial systems and patents were also developed [57,58],1 • defining a significant case-study application (P:0);
but no application to building heritage seems to be provided up to • defining an “efficient” intelligent evacuation guidance system
now. (called Density-based Intelligent Evacuation Guidance Sys-
These systems should be designed by avoiding current tem, DensIEGS) by taking advantages of the BD approach
approaches simplifications and related shortcomings, such as the and implementing DensIEGS in a fire evacuation simulator
ones connected to the potential effect of a fire,2 and by taking (P:0; R:0);
advantages of previous wayfinding studies [1,3–5,28]. The “behav- • evaluating the DensIEGS effectiveness on the selected case-study
ioral design” (BD) approach would help in developing similar in respect to the existing wayfinding system, by using the fire
systems by founding the building components definition on human evacuation simulator (P:0; R:0).
behavioral aspects, providing not-invasive solutions while preser-
ving architectural characteristics, and also using innovative design
3.1. The tested scenario
solutions and tools [1,3].
Considering what is reported above, Italian-style historical the-
The historical Italian-style theatre “Gentile da Fabriano” (Fab-
atres represent a good example of high fire risk historical buildings
riano, Italy) was chosen as the case-study. Built during the 19th
needed to be studied for decreasing their risk in respect to their
century, it is a typical Italian horseshoe-shaped theatre with more
architectural values [1,59], for example by introducing innovative
than 700 seats on 4 tiers and a gallery, as shown by Fig. 1. Table 1
wayfinding systems. They are characterized by:
summarizes the considered seats number for each level and the
emergency exits according to the theatre evacuation plan, as shown
• a very particular architectural shape and spaces distribution by Fig. 1. The existing traditional Punctual Wayfinding System
(mainly characterized by a wide principal door and narrow sec- (PWS) [1], shown by Fig. 2, is composed by PLM standard directional
ondary exits; all the audience is placed in the same “room”, signs (a person running and a triangle with tail) [32,66], hung at
because tiers, galleries and foyer all face the stage: people ca be the wall (minimum height from the floor: about 200 cm) placed at
considered as placed in the same fire zone); directional intersections. The current theatre emergency and evac-
• high occupants’ density during shows and other performances uation layout configuration (including evacuation exits and paths,
(people occasionally spend times in this building by moving along wayfinding system) respects Italian regulations about fire safety
strict entrance directions in order to reach their seat; they are so [16,32,67,68]. The theatre was involved by previous experimental
generally unfamiliar with spaces different from the main hall, the activities of our research group [1] involving the parterre and 1st
parterre and the foyer); tier fire drill.
• typical wooden structures of particular historic and artistic value
(e.g. the upper circle box and its slabs, the overhead scenery and 3.2. BD approach-based intelligent wayfinding system definition:
the unusual roofing trusses); Dens-IEGS
• the possibility of massive and invasive modifications due to fire
regulations [15,16]. The IEGS has to address the most performing evacuation paths
to pedestrians arriving near a decision point by considering the
surrounding environmental conditions [35,45]. One of the most
In this study, an innovative IEGS for individuals’ safety in build-
important aspects to be considered is represented by understand-
ing heritage is defined and evaluated in an historical Italian-style
ing how men are moving in the environment. Mainly, overcrowding
theatre. The proposed occupants’ Density-based IEGS (DensIEGS)
phenomena due to high pedestrians’ level could affect the evacua-
considers as main input values the occupants’ density along egress
tion time and so should be resolved. For this reason, the proposed
paths, doors and exits, so as to evidence slowing down or bot-
IEGS should be based on the identification of pedestrians’ densities
tlenecks in evacuation [13,60]. “Collective” signs will address the
in critical environment points (such as geometrical bottlenecks,
best evacuation path in terms of pedestrians’ density (and so over-
doors, intersections between horizontal distribution spaces or
crowding probability) to incoming occupants. According to the BD
between corridors and staircases). The density level is considered as
approach and previous studies about wayfinding systems evalu-
significant for describing the pedestrians’ speed and flow according
ation [2,41,45,61], an initial system effectiveness evaluation can
to the Fundamental Diagrams [60]. At the same time, the pedestri-
be performed by using validated microscopic evacuation simu-
ans’ density can be calculated as a function of pedestrians’ flows
lators [62–64], which are able to reproduce human interactions
too.
in emergency evacuation in an accurate way [63]. Analyses on
risk-reduction interventions could easily take advantages of this
approach also in order to reduce the impact of implementation 3.3. Implementation of DensIEGS and validation

The IEGS algorithm and IEGS effects on occupants (in terms of

choices, mainly) are implemented in the freeware FDS + EVAC fire
1
E.g.: Siemens® T̈otal Building Solution:̈ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= evacuation simulator [64]3 so as to provide a first effectiveness
ycp6k5zDtF0 (last access 12/12/2015).
2
For example, regulations do not discouraged the application of signs near to (at)
the ceiling: nevertheless, during a fire, the ceiling level is the first one that suffers
3
from smoke presence: signs could briefly become invisible! http://www.firemodels.github.io/fds-smv/ (last access 12/06/2015).

Please cite this article in press as: G. Bernardini, et al., Intelligent evacuation guidance systems for improving fire safety
of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Fig. 1. Theater level plans: A – parterre; B – 1st tier and main entrance; C – 2nd tier; D – 3rd tier and foyer; E – 4th tier; F – gallery. Evacuation paths (gray arrows) according
to the theatre evacuation plan and position of the main evacuation maps hanged on building walls (black dots) are evidenced. The left side of the theatre is the bottom part
of each figure.

Table 1
Number of seats for each level. About exits, “on the floor” means that no stairs are used while exiting from the related door; elsewhere, motion along stairs is needed. Codes
univocally identify each exit. 4th tier and gallery share a staircase exit on the left side, as graphically evidenced by Fig.1.

Level Seats Level (floor) height (m) Exits [code] (specifications)

Parterre 200 0 Main entrance [ME] (on the floor, composed by three doors)
1st tier 120 2.6 Main entrance [ME], 1st tier left [1L] and right [1R] sides (on the floor)
2nd tier 126 5.2 Main entrance [ME], 2nd tier left [2L] and right [2R] sides
3rd tier 126 7.7 Main entrance [ME], foyer [F] (on the floor)
4th tier 106 10.3 Main entrance [ME], 4th tier left [4L] side
Gallerya > 80 12.8 Main entrance [ME], 4th tier left [GL] side
a
Not numbered seats.

assessment of the system. FDS + EVAC is based on the Social evidences the same macroscopic phenomena noticed in real world
Force Model [63] and merges pedestrians’ motion with the events [62,63,65].
fluid-dynamics representation of fire and smoke spreading dur- FDS + EVAC is composed by: a modulus simulating the fire devel-
ing the time. In this microscopic approach, experimental-based opment during the time through a fluid-dynamic solver (FDS)4 ; a
individuals’ interactions with both other building occupants and
environmental elements are represented by assigning evacuation
rules (defined in mathematical terms by a series of “invisible” 4
http://www.nist.gov/el/fire research/fds smokeview.cfm (last access
Social Forces) to each person. The overlapping of these interactions 12/06/2015).

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Table 2
“Scenario 0” and “Scenario IEGS” description: the main entrance refers to Table 1
and corresponds to main [EM] exit.

Scenario Preferred speed Exit choice criteria

Scenario 0 Adult type for Everyone knows the

FDS + EVAC simulator, main entrance; a
standard configuration ppath,sec (10%) of
[64] occupants also knows
the floor secondary
exits defined in Table 1
Scenario IEGS Everyone follows the
path direction
suggested by
evacuation signs

modifying the EVAC source code and inserting the simulation

of the Dens-IEGS,
◦ a Fortran compiler for creating the final executable file for
FDS + EVAC simulation.

3.3.2. EVAC source codes modifications

Fig. 2. View of the 1st tier corridor (right side), including the current wayfinding Modifications to FDS + EVAC about human behavioral algo-
sign and other elements within evacuation facilities.
rithms (rules for occupants’ motion) are provided in evac.f90 file.
ECLIPSE was used to develop the modifications and test them in
modulus simulating pedestrians’ evacuation according to the Social
a stand-alone environment. When modifications are completed
Force Model (EVAC) [63,64]. The two modules can be separately
within evac.f90, a Fortran compiler should be used so as to run
used. Different occupants characteristics can be modelled inside
the makefds file and generate the executable final program. The
EVAC by the user in terms of physical quantities (e.g. individual’s
new executable file replaces the original one in order to perform
dimension, speed) and evacuation choices (e.g. “herding” behav-
FDS + EVAC simulation by considering the performed modifica-
iors, familiarity with architectural space, knowledge of a limited
tions. Inputs and outputs for DensIEGS are “virtually” connected to
number of exits through a “known door probability” index5 ). Spe-
individuals’ evacuation data from the FDS + EVAC simulator, in real
cific parameters variations are allowed by statistical distributions,
time.
in order to define differences in individual’s behavioral aspects, as
in real tests [11]. The simulator is widely used for fire safety engi-
neering evaluations [69], allows modifications to the source code in 3.3.3. Criteria for DensIEGS effectiveness evaluation
order to include further modifications3 , and was already validated Two sets of simulations are performed for effectiveness eval-
by many tests (including the ones from international guidelines and uations as shown by Table 2. Eight simulations are carried out
real world experiments) [64,70,71]. for each simulation set, as for the simulator validation process,
and average results are compared. Both the two simulations set
3.3.1. Hardware and software will involve 756 individuals, according to the maximum occupants’
Simulations were performed by using: number in Table 1. For the gallery, it is supposed to have 85 occu-
pants. The theatre geometry is faithfully reproduced in FDS + EVAC
• hardware: HP ProDesk 400 G1 MT; Intel® CoreTM i-4570 CPU @ with an approximation of about 20 cm. This approximation is also
3.20Ghz; RAM: 8GB; SO: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; compatible with individual’s radius within FDS + EVAC and Social
• software package used for numerical modelling: complete suite Force Model [64,72]. No smoke conditions are simulated in order to
FDS + EVAC (including Smokeview) and related source codes (in underline the algorithms components directly connected to human
Fortran90); FDS v6.0, EVAC v2.5.0.6 Smokeview is the graphical behaviors as themselves. Moreover, no pre-movement time is con-
interface of solver results about both fire, smoke and pedestrians’ sidered for the scenarios simulations.
motion; The first set concerns with the evacuation of the whole theatre
• Software package used for serve FDS + EVAC simulator: in the current conditions (scenario 0, without the Dens-IEGS sys-
◦ Pyrosim® software (by Thunderhead Engineering) for rapid FDS tem). This can be considered the “worst” conditions in terms of
input files definition through a specified 2-D and 3-D design wayfinding help to people who have no familiarity with the build-
environment; six months free academic license.7 However, ing [1]. The second set involves the application of the Dens-IEGS
input files can be created directly using a txt processor by fol- on the theatre (scenario IEGS). This scenario represents the “best”
lowing the software input file guidelines, evacuation conditions, where all individuals should positively react
◦ ECLIPSE, Open Source IDE (version Luna)8 combined with to the IEGS system stimuli. Conditions of individuals’ familiarity
the PHOTRAN plug-in9 for Fortran language. This is used for with the theatre are considered according to real-world behaviors
examined by our previous drill in the same theatre [1]. All the sim-
ulated occupants know the main entrance (in FDS + EVAC, the main
5
entrance will have a maximum “known door probability” equal to
The “known door probability” goes from 0 (unknown door) to 1 (known door).
A similar parameter concerns exits. In this way, familiarity with particular building 100%), while a percentage of occupants ppath,sec also knows sec-
parts can be simulated. ondary paths and exits. According to previous results concerning
6
Download from http://www.firemodels.github.io/fds-smv/ (last access with the number of people using the traditional punctual system
12/06/2015). during this drill [1], experimental ppath,sec was about 10% of people
7
Download from http://www.thunderheadeng.com/pyrosim/ (last access
12/06/2015).
in the parterre and about 50% for the 1st tier. However, we consider
8
Download from http://www.eclipse.org (last access 12/06/2015). ppath,sec = 10% as the most significant value in order to err in the side
9
Download from http://www.eclipse.org/photran/ (last access 12/06/2015). of caution and to stress the influence of unfamiliarity conditions.

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The simulator randomly chooses people who know these secondary flames and gas toxicity [45]) and smoke propagation (evidencing
paths. smoke-man interferences especially in motion speed [74]) within
Comparisons of these two scenarios allow to detect how safety the building.
level increases by considering the following aspects [1,5,41,64]: Occupants’ indoor positioning detectors can define “where” indi-
viduals are and “which” are the pedestrians’ densities along the
• number of exiting pedestrians versus evacuation time (graphical paths or in critical areas. “Where” involves presence of people in
representation); rooms with raising hazardous conditions (e.g. because of raising
• average and maximum evacuation time (s) with an approxima- smoke or heat levels). Pedestrians’ densities are direct indicators of
tion of 5 s; possibility to move along the evacuation paths [60]. Related criti-
• use of exits by occupants (number of people); cal areas are “hot-spots” in the building layout, such as bottlenecks,
• pedestrians’ flow at the exit (pp/s); spaces in front of doors and exits, and are called “control areas”. In
• average evacuation speed (m/s). this way, overcrowded paths can be evidenced and related inputs
can be addressed to the central processing unity (algorithm solver).
Previous works about IEGS effectiveness analysis through sim- Involved detector could be:
ulators [41] underline how the random selection of occupants’
characteristics (i.e. by defining ppath,sec ) could introduce secondary
evacuation phenomena (e.g. random path choices) while estimat- • PIR sensors for detecting if anyone is moving in a space/room
ing the total evacuation time. For this reason, the analyses involve [48];
the maximum evacuation time when the 95% of occupants exit the • PIR array sensors for detecting motion speed and direction along
building (or the level), and not when the last individual reaches the the path; applied on the ceiling or on the walls [75,76];
exit. • RFID sensors (e.g. gates) for determining individuals crossing
For each quantity, percentage differences will be calculated in particular passages, such as door, and so determining flows of
respect to scenario 0 according to the following Eq (1): pedestrians during the time and number of people along the path
xIEGS − x0 stretch between two consecutive passages [39,51,77]; active and
x(%) = × 100 (1) passive RFID would implies the distance between the crossing
x0
pedestrians and the detectors;
where x is a general parameter (e.g. the evacuation time), and the • Wi-Fi indoor tracking positioning [41,78].
subscripts refer to scenario 0 (0) and scenario IEGS (IEGS) simu-
lations values, respectively. Finally, main path choices are placed
when people is on the floor (e.g. choice of the exits from the Furthermore, real time image analysis by fixed cameras could
parterre), while along the foyer, the main entrances, the stair- be also performed [36,79,80], but has many disadvantages, such
case and the following corridors, any evacuation exit choice can as time-consuming in data interpretation. These systems are often
be directly performed (the path can be defined as “obliged”). At the applied to building heritage and generally have a low impact
same time, the horizontal progressive building evacuation [15] can on the construction (in terms of supplier and building modifica-
be used so as to evacuate multi-story buildings (such as the theater). tions).
For these reasons, an analysis of evacuation time from each level Detection systems are connected to an evacuation central man-
is shown in a separate way. Finally, for each individual, speeds are ager in a real time way [35]. The manager is composed by a central
evaluated as the ratio between the evacuation path length and the processing unit for data collecting, including the evacuation guid-
related evacuation time. Hence, the average whole sample value ance algorithm solver (e.g. a computer). Depending on the input
for each exit is calculated. Comparisons of average motion speed data from environmental and behavioural detectors, the algorithm
with previous emergency drills [12] in normal visibility conditions solver mainly would take into account the presence of smokes, of
is performed in order to validate the motion process from a general pedestrians’ densities conditions so as to avoid an additional arrival
point of view. of occupants in critical areas.
Fig. 3 includes the general scheme for the path decision algo-
4. Definition of the DensIEGS by a BD approach in historical rithm. These series of actions are performed for each “control area”
heritage application and for each calculus time step. Different best path choices can
be proposed by combining all the data about pedestrians’ density
The proposed Density-based Intelligent Evacuation Guidance for the whole path or for a single stretch of path (or for a single
System (DensIEGS) uses the pedestrians’ density as representative room).
parameter for describing human behaviors and possibility to move Finally, electrically-illumined signs allow to interact with pede-
along an indoor path. strians by suggesting them the “correct” and “safe” evacuation path
in a dynamic way during the time. They are often applied to building
4.1. DensIEGS characterization heritage according to current fire safety regulations [15,16,32,33],
as also shown by the case study Fig. 2. According to the algorithm
Fig. 3 resumes the overall proposed system by including both solution, signs are able to directly bring suggested paths to evac-
the system blocks (on the left) and their related operations within uating individuals’ attention. From an operative point of view, the
the path choice algorithm (on the right). signs could be composed by: punctual elements placed at least at
Detection of fire evolution can be performed by fire detectors. the path variations (including doors and “control areas”) with dif-
They are currently applied to building heritage in order to quickly ferent arrows (one for each possible path direction) or open/close
detect possible fire sources and causes for evacuation, as also sug- sign (e.g. green or red colour); continuous elements, such as LED
gested by fire regulations [10,15,16,73], fire maps guidelines (e.g. stripes placed along the paths. In the second case, their dimension
pr EN 54-14; UNI9795:2010 for Italian applications) and shown should be minimized and they should be applied as removable ele-
by Fig. 2. Smoke detectors should be added so as to identify the ments (e.g. within baseboards or handrails), so as to maintain a
optical density of smoke and evaluate the visibility distance in the low-impact criteria point of view in these historical scenarios. In
space (m). In this way, it should be possible to monitoring fire particular, near ground applications (e.g. within baseboards) are
propagation (addressing unavailable building parts because of fire, really useful in case of smoke presence [1,35].

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Fig. 3. Schematization for the DensIEGS: system blocks and path choice algorithm (without smoke influence) used for DensIEGS decision about available door/path.

All sensors and signs should be removable, connected by Wi- In this study, DensIEGS uses “collective” signs (directly placed on
Fi and supplied by portable batteries,10 in order to avoid massive the environment), and they are considered applied on doors (e.g.
cables and related installation interventions on buildings. Exist- green for open as available/red for close as unavailable). No smoke
ing electrically-illumined signs (often placed in building heritage) and fire conditions are actually included in this work in order to
could be shared with IEGS. Furthermore, another fundamental topic mainly focus on man–DensIEGS interactions. The historical scenario
is represented by the fire resistance of elements composing the given by the case study and the previous experimental drill results
system (e.g. electric devices should be hosted by fireproof or fire about queuing phenomena [1] suggest to address the correct path
retardant boxes). At the same time, the electrical equipment should choices to occupants while they are leaving their seats. Signs could
be tested in fire conditions. suggest the proper way to evacuate the parterre, the 1st tier and
so on in a separate way. Hence, the best path choice will concern
with going out from each single level (level are defined in Table 1)
10
With both good durability and low level of maintenance. Communication could
by using the less crowded exit. In this sense, the solving algo-
be also guaranteed by “power over Ethernet” technologies in no blackout and no rithm will find the best path within the possible choices “level by
fire damages emergency conditions. level”.

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Moreover, if all “control areas” referring to the same path or to waiting, physical contacts among them can exist, according to
the same room (e.g. all the room exits) are evaluated as “unavail- group motion phenomena and “fast-is-lower” effects [63]);
able” because of pedestrians’ density, the algorithm will suggest as • DENSITY OPEN equal to 0.7 persons per square meter that is
“available” the one with the lowest density. In this way, no loop (or about LOS D limit conditions for moving pedestrians (we con-
dead branches) could affect the overall solving algorithm. sidered that people are moving while clearing out the area by
allowing really closer one to each other).
4.2. DensIEGS implementation for fire evacuation simulation
However, in order to avoid the door blockage, DEN-
All the developed files (and an example of simulation outputs SITY CLOSE = 100 can be chosen; so as to avoid door opening,
for the case study) are available at https://www.goo.gl/rGboSu. DENSITY OPEN = 0.
This repository includes the implementation of the proposed path
choice algorithm (shown by Fig. 3) within the evac.f90 file. 5. DensIEGS application: effectiveness evaluation results by
In order to define “control areas” in the given environment to simulations
be simulated, an external input file (InputArea.txt) is defined. For
each “control area”, this file includes: the related identifier of the Fig. 4 schematizes the overall theatre by using the DensIEGS.
area (by including the related controlled door); the coordinates of All the simulated elements are represented: “control areas”, placed
corners; the density limit for closing (DENSITY CLOSE) or open- (just) before a layout bottleneck (e.g. near a door such as for area 6
ing (DENSITY OPEN) the related doors; the area (m2 ); the number in Fig. 4a); at layout variations (such as along the corridor in area
of agents who is inside at time T = 0. It is considered that a “con- 1-2-3-4 Fig. 4a; at the landing such as for area 3A DX in Fig. 4d) or
trol area” can manage more than one door.11 An external log of between two consecutive bottlenecks (e.g. area 5 in Fig. 4c), within
pedestrians’ densities in each “control area” is offered by a created the different floor levels; the position of signs; the identification of
external file (risultati.txt). Both these files should be placed in the exits including both main and secondary ones.
same folder of the *.fds input file for simulation. Fig. 5 resumes the number of exited pedestrians during the time
In these initial evaluations, it is supposed that all occu- for the “scenario 0” (current passive wayfinding system in the the-
pants positively respond to DensIEGS interaction. To this aim, atre) and the “scenario IEGS” (application of the DensIEGS to the
the “change related signs directional information” block in Fig. 3 theatre according to Fig. 4). Table 3 compares maximum evacua-
corresponds to the blockage of the related door by modifying tion times connected to the 95% of exited occupants for the whole
the EVAC DOORS(I)%TIME CLOSE and EVAC DOORS(I)%TIME OPEN theatre and each level. The overall percentage reduction of maxi-
variables, representing the time of door closure/opening. In other mum evacuation time is equal to –26% in respect to “scenario 0”
words, people use the door only if this is open, and so “available” conditions. Table 4 focuses on the main evacuation variable com-
(in case of low pedestrians’ density level along the related path). parisons for each exit, according to section 0 specifications. Firstly,
According to the “data collection and algorithm solver” procedure percentage differences (%) are evaluated according to Equation
in Fig. 3, performed steps are the following ones: (1): when the values are higher than 100%, it means that the related
value while using the DensIEGS has more than doubled.
• the simulation time is now T; Main effects of DensIEGS effectiveness are the following ones:
• evaluating the pedestrians’ density in the control area by count-
ing the number of individuals within the considered area and • a more fair distribution of occupants among the building emer-
dividing by the area dimension (by obtaining a person per square gency exits. DensIGES directional suggestions seem to lead
meter ratio); occupants to move towards secondary exits. According to Table 4,
• if the density is higher than the limit value, the door a reduction in “number of exited pedestrians” is noticed only for
is considered as closed for the arriving pedestrians, and the main exit (ME), while flows at secondary exits (especially the
EVAC DOORS(I)%TIME CLOSE = T; ones “on the floor”) are preferred;
• return to the first point of these steps, and now the time is T + 1; • a general speeding up of the overall evacuation process. Individ-
• evaluate pedestrians’ density again according to step 2; uals are allowed to choose the less crowded evacuation paths
• if the current density is lower than the limit one, (exits), with a general increase of average motion speeds and exit
the path will be available for arriving pedestrians and flows. Exits “on the floor” (e.g. 2L, 2R, F) denote negative (%)
EVAC DOORS(I)%TIME OPEN = (T + 1). Obviously, setting and/or a low increase of maximum evacuation times because
EVAC DOORS(I)%TIME CLOSE = T when the door is yet close of short path length and significant occupants’ flows during the
has not effect in door availability; the same happens for opening time: related percentage differences are > 100%. Although speeds
conditions overlapping. and evacuation times for some exits are apparently dissenting,
a more adequate distribution of occupants among the different
DENSITY CLOSE and DENSITY OPEN can be different so as to exits is reached at the building scale. Finally, average simulations
allow the clearing out of the “control area” by pedestrians who are
immediately arriving here. In this study, we fixed, for each “control Table 3
area”: Comparison of maximum evacuation times.

Maximum evacuation time (s) (%)

• DENSITY CLOSE equal to 3 persons per square meter that is about
Scenario 0 Scenario IEGS
the Level-of-Service (LOS) [81,82] E limit condition for waiting
pedestrians (we consider that some pedestrians are waiting for Overall theatre 170 125 –26
their passage across the door; at the same time, while they are Level
Parterre 100 60 –40
1st tier 60 35 –41
2nd tier 150 105 –30
11 3rd tier 110 85 –22
In operative terms, the simulator adopts two-control area with the same geo-
4th tier 100 45 –55
metrical and density limit features, but with different door identifiers (one for each
Gallery 50 35 –30
door).

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Fig. 4. Application scheme of DensIEGS at the different theater levels, including: “control areas” positioning (and related identification code within InputArea.txt); signs
positioning over the doors and along the paths, managed by the nearby “control area”, also according to Section 0; exits identifications (including the related code according
to Table 1; exit direction along staircases (black long arrows).

motion speed for the two tested scenarios are in the values range same curve shape is shared by similar tiers layout configuration
of previous works involving adults in emergency conditions (with (2nd and 4th tiers).
no blackout or smoke) [12,41];
• a general speeding up for each level. According to previous con- The best reductions in evacuation times are retrieved in the
siderations, Table 3 and Fig. 5 demonstrate how the evacuation parterre, as shown by Fig. 5a and Table 3. The total evacuation time
timing and the related curve (time against number of exited pede- for this level is equal to about 40 s (–40% in percentage terms). Fig. 6
strians) for each level are positively influenced by these exits graphically shows the differences between the evacuation without
choices. Moreover, the evacuation of the 3rd tier shows the low- using the DensIEGS (Fig. 6a) and by using it (Fig. 6b), while Table 5
est (%) value because the two possible exits are really close one resumes the parterre evacuation quantities for each door. Doors
to each other. The comparison of Figs. 4 and 5 underlines how the are: main door MD (directly pointing at the main entrance, along

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Fig. 5. Comparison between “Scenario 0” and “Scenario IEGS” simulations (average results) concerning curves about number of exited pedestrians against evacuation time
for the whole theatre (top of the figure) and each different level. Average results are obtained by performing 8 simulations.

area 1-2-3-4 in Fig. 4); right RD and left LD doors (secondary exits can be noticed and can influence the overall parterre evacuation
along the parterre sides). In particular, while moving in “scenario time. On the contrary, as shown by Fig. 6b, a significant number of
0” conditions of Fig. 6a, most of the people moves towards the main people in “scenario IEGS” moves towards the lateral parterre exit,
parterre entrance. Hence, overcrowding and queuing phenomena thus diminishing the number of people along the queue to the main

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Table 4
Evacuation results for each exit. Exits are identified according to Table1 (the main entrance is distinguished by central ME c door and lateral ME l doors). For each exit,
“scenario IEGS” and “scenario 0” values are firstly pointed out. Then, the percentage difference (%) is calculated.

Motion quantity Scenario Exit

ME c ME l 1L 1R 2L 2R F 4L GL

Flow (pp/s) IEGS 1.37 0.90 0.57 0.90 0.70 0.30 0.50 1.00 0.90
0 1.40 0.89 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.30
(%) –2 0 –6 80 75 50 150 400 200
Number of exited occupants IEGS 202 264 43 45 29 32 38 41 33
0 256 333 35 39 12 12 23 7 9
(%) –21 –21 22 15 142 161 70 454 249
Max evac. time (s) IEGS 140 130 80 55 45 95 85 40 35
0 170 175 65 75 30 55 105 40 30
(%) –18 –26 23 –27 50 73 –19 0 17
Av. speed (m/s) IEGS 0.69 0.73 0.53 0.51 1.18 0.57 0.41 0.63 0.68
0 0.60 0.60 0.46 0.44 1.48 0.73 0.52 0.59 0.75
(%) 16 22 14 15 –20 –22 –21 8 –9

Fig. 6. Graphical representation of parterre evacuation differences in “scenario 0” (a) and “scenario IEGS” (b). Gray filled ellipses evidence areas with higher occupants’
densities during the evacuation. Exit doors are identified and codified. The background image is taken from a Smokeview simulation frame.

Table 5
Comparison of evacuation quantities for parterre exit door. Door codes are shown according to Fig. 6.

Main door (MD) Right door (RD) Left door (LD)

Scenario IEGS 0 (%) IEGS 0 (%) IEGS 0 (%)

Max evac. time (s) 60 100 –40 60 55 9 60 35 71

Av. evac. time (s) 30 55 –45 35 20 75 35 20 75
Flow (pp/s) 1.64 1.64 0 0.72 0.17 321 0.72 0.29 146
Exited occupants 101 170 –41 44 10 350 45 10 347

door. The main door (MD) in the parterre has the same flows for evacuating pedestrians, and then designing evacuation facilities
both the scenarios, because the DensIEGS evacuation time is sen- in order to provide the required answers to these human needs,
sibly lower. On the contrary, flows at lateral doors increase: then by limiting architectural modifications to buildings. A BD-based
evacuation times decrease for the whole population. wayfinding system, which could be perceived and used by building
Finally, some remarks about occupants’ exit choice decision occupants in a proper way, is offered and evaluated.
have to be pointed out. In the “scenario 0” configuration, an aver- The proposed Intelligent Evacuation Guidance System (Den-
age value of about 8% of occupants chooses secondary paths (RD:6%; sIEGS) detects environmental conditions and pedestrians’ flows
LD:10%). As we could suppose before the simulations, this percent- inside the building by using indoor occupants’ tracking techniques
age principally involves people who sat near the related evacuation and sensors. Then, it elaborates input data in order to identifying
exit (near to RD or LD) when the alarm rang (when the evacuation the best paths and suggests the correct paths to occupants by taking
simulation started). These people could represent individuals who advantages of electrically-illumined signs (provided with backup
surely use secondary exit in evacuation conditions. In the “scenario power supply). The pedestrians’ density is chosen as referring
IEGS”, the same average value is about 35%. This percentage demon- parameter for the occupants’ evacuation description and solving
strates that about the 27% of simulated occupants decides to change dynamic algorithm for best paths finding. System elements take
his/her evacuation direction because of the DensIEGS interaction. In advantages of wireless communication so as to avoid massive inter-
fact, while using the DensIEGS, if the control area approaches the ventions on the building. DensIEGS is applied to a representative
critical density, the incoming occupants are then guided to other case study (an Italian-style historical theatre). Its effectiveness is
exits because of signs directional information. compared to the traditional punctual signs by taking advantages of
a validated fire evacuation simulator.
6. Conclusions The estimated evacuation time while using the DensIEGS is up
to 26% lower than the one concerning the traditional punctual
This research work adopts a “behavioural design” (BD) approach wayfinding system (40% for levels with 3 or more different pos-
to increase individuals’ safety in historical buildings, in case of sible paths). In fact, secondary exits are better utilised by people
fire evacuation. This approach is based on analysing the needs of because chosen as the clearest path (+88% while using DensIEGS in

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of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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Please cite this article in press as: G. Bernardini, et al., Intelligent evacuation guidance systems for improving fire safety
of Italian-style historical theatres without altering their architectural characteristics, Journal of Cultural Heritage (2016),
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