Passenger Evacuation Analysis and Guidance Strategy Optimization in Metro Stations by Considering Small-Group Behavior

In the event of an emergency in a metro station, the behavior of small-group passenger flow can have a significant impact on the evacuation efficiency. To investigate the behavior of metro passengers in small groups and the effect of guidance on the evacuation efficiency, we analyze the motion characteristics and expected velocities of small groups based on a social force model. The decision-making model for expected velocities of small groups is analyzed in combination with guidance strategies. Using a metro station in Beijing, simulation results show that as the size and proportion of small-group passengers increase, the evacuation time will increase to varying degrees. When the proportion of small-group passengers decreases from 40% to 0% under the guidance, the evacuation efficiency improves by 34.46%. The findings can provide a scientific basis for emergency management and have practical application value for optimizing passenger flow evacuation strategies in metro stations.