Experimental and simulation study on the effect of lighted guidance signs on exit re-selection for different pedestrian types

Large subway stations have many exits. Selecting the correct exit is crucial for pedestrian evacuation during a disaster. Thus, the intelligent guidance of pedestrians is necessary during an evacuation. In this study, a small-scale multi-exit evacuation experiment is conducted in an H-type subway station using lighted guidance signs to indicate the real-time pedestrian density at the exit. Three experimental scenarios are investigated: evacuation with no lighted guidance signs; evacuation with lighted guidance signs; and evacuation with lighted guidance signs in a low-view environment. The exit choice model and the social force model with pedestrian classification are used, and a density threshold is incorporated into the exit choice model for numerical simulation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results. The results show that pedestrians are more inclined to choose wider exits when no lighted guidance signs are used. The lighted guidance signs significantly improve evacuation efficiency, and this effect is more pronounced for fewer insensitive pedestrians (10 or 20 people). The lighted guidance signs are less effective in a low-view environment, and the exit width is a more crucial factor in choosing an exit.