Pedestrian Simulation Made Easy: Your questions, answered

The four step guide to using Oasys MassMotion: Create | Simulate | Analyse | Revise.

Create your model, simulate your space, analyse the results, revise design changes and communicate with stakeholders...with Oasys MassMotion, it's that easy!?

Pedestrian simulation software are essential for urban, event, and transport planning. They allow professionals to visualise and analyse people movement in various spaces. By incorporating this design stage into your project workflow, you can avoid expensive real-world trials and minimise the risk of future redevelopment work. We understand there are several challenges that need to be addressed when choosing which tools to use. Read on to explore how MassMotion’s four-step approach addresses these obstacles.?

1. Create

Q: The initial learning curve can be steep for Planners who are not as familiar with coding practices and other integrated tools. How does MassMotion combat complexity and simplify the learning curve for new users??

A: MassMotion combines an intuitive user interface with advanced capabilities, allowing you to leverage your transferable skills as you start using the software. The recently-added grid feature assists with model dimensions during space design.??

When you’re ready to explore MassMotion, the first step is to create your model. We provide best practices for importing, building, and editing 2D and 3D geometry from commonly used programs. You can set parameters for rapid scenario testing a wide range of analyses. We’ve streamlined geometry editing with faster 3D imports. Whether you’re working with meshes, edges, or breaking down large objects into smaller components, MassMotion simplifies the process.?

MassMotion seamlessly integrates with BIM workflows and embraces automation and customisation. By focusing on people-centric design processes, you’ll unlock the true value of your space.?

If you need additional support, our team of experts has a rich history of closely collaborating with clients to maximise the benefits of their models.?

2. Simulate?

Q: Simulating large crowds or entire urban areas can strain computational resources. How does MassMotion attempt to balance accuracy with computational efficiency, especially when dealing with complex layouts and many agents??

A: Using the four-step approach, you can have your model up and running rapidly, saving hours of valuable design time. Run your simulations based on project requirements and scene or agent behaviours with ease. This allows you to investigate and identify changes to the design and operations effectively.?

In our latest release, we’ve significantly improved the database files. The file size of mmdb files has been reduced by 50%, doubling the number of simulations you can run, making managing internal storage more efficient. Additionally, you can now load previous databases in MassMotion, simplifying the auditing process for older model files.?

If you require advanced features for your models, the MassMotion Software Development Kit (SDK) unlocks direct access to the MassMotion crowd engine. With the SDK, you can customise your models, control advanced algorithms, simulations, and agents, putting you in the driver’s seat of your designs.?

Find out more about the latest release.?

Oasys MassMotion: Hotel lobby flythrough (youtube.com)?

Q: Urban environments are dynamic, with changing conditions due to events or infrastructure modifications. How does MassMotion help Planners account for various scenarios and adapt their designs accordingly??

A: MassMotion is a versatile tool that models and simulates countless scenarios and environments. This, paired with rapid testing and analysis, equips you to meet project requirements effectively. The flexibility inherent in MassMotion’s capabilities has led to its widespread adoption across diverse spaces, including fire egress, transport and aviation planning, urban development, commercial planning, and architecture. Explore client case studies from around the world to witness how MassMotion consistently proves its effectiveness in project workflows.?

3. Analyse?

Q: Modelling accuracy is a crucial requirement from stakeholders. Achieving accurate representations of real-world pedestrian behaviour can be challenging. Models may not fully capture the intricacies of human movement, leading to discrepancies between simulations and actual observations. How does MassMotion handle real-world data??

A: At the analysis stage, you’ll conduct various analyses to generate graphs, maps, and tables. These help to identify potential capacity, flow, and congestion issues. We recognise the importance of aligning with real-world scenarios when providing feedback on operational design changes. With MassMotion, you can easily import existing data and use the timetabling feature for accurate scenario testing.?

MassMotion allows complete customisation of agent behavior and their profiles, giving you ultimate control over your pedestrian simulation analysis. Backed by extensive research, MassMotion ensures reliable agent behavior—agents don’t automatically collide with each other and can autonomously navigate their surroundings. You can adjust agent values to tailor their behavior based on specific project requirements.?

We know that manually updating your CSV file and repeatedly switching back to the software can be time-consuming. To streamline this process, we’ve introduced the script object. By using a script, you can update your schedule file, create a new CSV file with the necessary changes, and run simulations seamlessly. Without the script object, managing multiple scenarios and making individual CSV file updates would become tedious.?

4. Revise?

Q: Communicating simulation results to stakeholders requires clear visualisations. How does MassMotion facilitate effective communication and interpretation of complex data to stakeholders??

A: MassMotion offers a range of results to effectively communicate informed design changes to stakeholders and address early-stage issues:?

• 4K Movies: Create compelling 4K movies to showcase your models and highlight design modifications.?

• Static Accessibility Map: For precise numerical data, use the Static Accessibility Map query. It provides performance indicators for comparing designs and enhancing stakeholder communication. Assess various route options to understand how your space performs for different user groups.?

• Summarise Data: Quickly encapsulate design differences by summarising data levels. Query and export map data, generate histograms, and identify hotspots, congestion and more! This is critical to offering a snapshot view of the performance of multiple designs.?

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For more information about Oasys MassMotion, get in touch today at [email protected]. Our team is here to help you in effectively communicating the importance of pedestrian simulation analysis within project workflows to decision-makers and stakeholders.?