Browsing by Author "Haghani M"

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A roadmap for the future of crowd safety research and practice: Introducing the Swiss Cheese Model of Crowd Safety and the imperative of a Vision Zero target
(Elsevier B.V., 2023-08-29) Haghani M; Coughlan M; Crabb B; Dierickx A; Feliciani C; van Gelder R; Geoerg P; Hocaoglu N; Laws S; Lovreglio R; Miles Z; Nicolas A; O'Toole WJ; Schaap S; Semmens T; Shahhoseini Z; Spaaij R; Tatrai A; Webster J; Wilson A
Crowds can be subject to intrinsic and extrinsic sources of risk, and previous records have shown that, in the absence of adequate safety measures, these sources of risk can jeopardise human lives. To mitigate these risks, we propose that implementation of multiple layers of safety measures for crowds—what we label The Swiss Cheese Model of Crowd Safety—should become the norm for crowd safety practice. Such system incorporates a multitude of safety protection layers including regulations and policymaking, planning and risk assessment, operational control, community preparedness, and incident response. The underlying premise of such model is that when one (or multiple) layer(s) of safety protection fail(s), the other layer(s) can still prevent an accident. In practice, such model requires a more effective implementation of technology, which can enable provision of real-time data, improved communication and coordination, and efficient incident response. Moreover, implementation of this model necessitates more attention to the overlooked role of public education, awareness raising, and promoting crowd safety culture at broad community levels, as one of last lines of defence against catastrophic outcomes for crowds. Widespread safety culture and awareness has the potential to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills that can prevent such outcomes or mitigate their impacts, when all other (exogenous) layers of protection (such as planning and operational control) fail. This requires safety campaigns and development of widespread educational programs. We conclude that, there is no panacea solution to the crowd safety problem, but a holistic multi-layered safety system that utilises active participation of all potential stakeholders can significantly reduce the likelihood of disastrous accidents. At a global level, we need to target a Vision Zero of Crowd Safety, i.e., set a global initiative of bringing deaths and severe injuries in crowded spaces to zero by a set year.
Exploring occupant exit choices during fire drills and false alarm evacuations in a library
(Elsevier Ltd., 2024-11-21) Tong Y; Bode NWF; Haghani M; Lovreglio R
Effective disaster management and public safety rely heavily on understanding human behaviour during evacuations. This study investigates 497 occupant exit choices in real-world evacuation scenarios including two evacuation drills and two false alarm evacuations in a university library building. These authentic settings offer a unique opportunity to examine real-world decision-making processes during evacuations. Employing a multinomial logit model, we quantitatively assess the impact of essential factors on human decision-making. Statistical analysis reveals that participants tend to choose the exits chosen by the majority, closer exits, exits indicated by staff, or exits they are familiar with. We found that participants on the ground floor showed a greater preference for familiar exits compared to those on other floors. Most importantly, we found that in fire drills the effect of crowding and familiarity on exit choices was reduced compared to false alarm evacuations. These findings underscore the critical implications for the conduct of drills and emphasise the importance of studying the contextual dependency of human behaviour during evacuations. Our work also contributes a novel exit choice dataset collected in a naturalistic setting and highlights the importance of the context in influencing pedestrian decision-making during evacuations.
Human behaviour in fire: Knowledge foundation and temporal evolution
(Elsevier B.V., 2024-02-13) Haghani M; Lovreglio R; Button ML; Ronchi E; Kuligowski E
Understanding human behaviour in fires (HBiF), whether in building or wildland fire contexts, is crucial for saving lives and managing evacuations. However, existing research lacks a comprehensive analysis of HBiF knowledge from both perspectives. To address this issue, we examined nearly 1900 HBiF-related research papers and their references, identifying around 6600 frequently cited references as the HBiF knowledge foundation. We focused on highly prominent items using metrics like citation frequency, burst, and centrality. By analysing co-citation patterns among these references, we unveiled current trends and waning areas of HBiF research. This study identifies knowledge gaps and potential future directions for the field, enabling both mapping of the research concerning our fundamental understanding of behavioural decision-making in fires as well as developing more effective life-saving strategies.