MassMotion and Flow, the BIM-compatible 3D pedestrian modelling software tools developed by Oasys have been validated and verified by Arup engineers, demonstrating that their simulations not only fulfil Oasys’ performance claims, but that they really do offer a true representation of the key aspects of human behaviour during an evacuation.

MassMotion and Flow are desktop pedestrian dynamics and evacuation simulation software tools that replicate the built environment as a series of geometrical components (e.g. floors, ramps, stairs, escalators, doors, barriers, and portals). Agents (or occupants of the 3-dimensional space) are introduced into the geometry of the built environment where they interact with the geometry components, in accordance with user-specified evacuation scenarios.

The route selection of an evacuating agent can be specified in two ways:

• Least Cost – Agents travel via the ‘easiest’ route.
• Specified Destination – An exit portal is specified for each agent. The agent will take the ‘Least Cost’ route to the specific exit portal.

Once the route selection has been established, the agents are effectively independent. Their movement through the 3D model is a reflexive process implemented via a ‘Social Forces’ algorithm that has been calibrated in accordance with Fruin’s Level of Service for pedestrian planning. They act as real pedestrians would.

Verification and validation (V&V) was conducted in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 1238 and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technical Note 1822. The V&V process included comparing predictions with ‘real world’ evacuation events, evacuation drills and circulation events.

“Verification and validation is a key factor for engineers when assessing the reliability of software modelling tools, and defining where their use is appropriate. Clearly this is especially important for evacuation modelling,” said Oasys Product Director Erin Morrow. “Put simply, this successful V&V demonstrates not only that our software does everything we intend it to, but also that it addresses the real world challenges that fire engineers face.

”We are immensely proud of this truly-remarkable software, which has unrivalled 3D capabilities and visual output in its field.”

You can download a copy of the Verification and Validation document the MassMotion documentation page within Support.