Research On Individual Wayfinding Behavior In Building Fires

Research on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires is an important micro basis to the crowd evacuation simulations and a scientific basis to the public emergency evacuation education and management.How to systematically interpret the mechanism of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires and to develop quantitative models,which has not yet been well answered,is critical to research on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires.The present thesis interpreted the mechanism of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires,proposed virtual reality-based(VR-based)experimental method for the research on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires,and developed quantitative models for individual wayfinding behavior in building fires.The present thesis provides a micro basis for the crowd evacuation simulations and a scientific basis for emergency evacuation management.First,the thesis systematically reviewed research on normal individual wayfinding behavior in buildings,the effects of acute stress on human cognitive processes,and individual wayfinding behavior in building fires.The above knowledge was integrated into a theoretical framework of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires by theoretical modeling.The theoretical framework interpreted the mechanism of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires from a cognitive perspective;Second,based on the proposed theoretical framework,the thesis analyzed the requirements of VR-based experimental methods for the high validity of research on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires.An immersive VR-based experimental method combined with multi-channel sensory stimulation was proposed.Experimental systems are essential to apply the proposed VR-based experimental method.A prototype experimental system including software and hardware was hence developed.A VR-based experiment applying the proposed VR-based experimental method was conducted to analyze the effects of repeated exposure on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires.The results of the experiment verified the feasibility and validity of the proposed VR-based experimental method;Third,the thesis analyzed the critical processes in the proposed theoretical framework and hence collected data for quantitatively modeling individual wayfinding behavior in specific building fires by the proposed VR-based experimental research for understanding the critical process,decision-making.Various modeling methods had been used to develop quantitative models of individual wayfinding routes and decisions in specific metro station fires.Based on the proposed theoretical framework of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires,the thesis conducted meta-analyses on individual wayfinding decisions in unspecific building fires.A meta-analytical model had been developed for the condition with exit signs.The present thesis integrated the current fragmented research findings in individual wayfinding behavior in building fires and interpreted the mechanism of individual wayfinding behavior in building fires,which built a theoretical foundation for future research;proposed an immersive VR-based experimental method combined with multi-channel sensory stimulation for research on individual wayfinding behavior in building fires and developed an experimental system including software and hardware,which provided feasible and valid tools for quantitative research and buildings evacuation drills and training;and developed quantitative models for individual wayfinding decisions in specific and unspecific building fires,which provided a micro basis for the crowd evacuation simulations and the evaluation of building safety.