Blum, J., and Eskandarian, A. (2004) “Multi-planar Cellular Automata for Evacuation Planning and Management”, Nagoya, Japan: Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress, CD-ROM.

Abstract: MASS EVAC 3d (Multi-planar Cellular Automata Simulation System for Evacuation Planning) provides a simulation system for evacuation of building complexes, parking lots, and surrounding areas. The program introduces novel extensions to cellular automata that produce scalable, high fidelity, multi-modal mobility models, extending vehicle mobility models and capturing interactions between pedestrians and vehicles. Furthermore, the system is currently being integrated into an interactive Virtual Reality environment, which will provide 3d rendering and allows for the interactive control. Consequently, planners will be able to explore the impact of a variety of incidents and control strategies on the execution of the evacuation plan.