Investigating the impact of guide placement and signage type on pedestrian evacuation behavior using Virtual Reality experiments

Abstract Evacuation systems play a vital role in ensuring the safety of individuals during emergencies, yet the impact of guide distribution, positioning, and signage on pedestrian behavior has been insufficiently explored. This study uses a virtual reality experiment, drawing on 1535 observations across various experimental conditions, to examine the effects of guide placement, separation distance, and sign types on participants’ movement behavior, including evacuation time, traveled distance, and detour-taking behavior. Our findings indicate that an even distribution of guides promotes more efficient evacuation compared to uneven distributions, with participants walking faster and taking fewer detours. Moreover, both guide separation distance and sign type significantly influence participant behavior, with footprint-shaped ground signs facilitating quicker evacuations. These results enhance the understanding of how guide design and placement can optimize evacuation outcomes and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on pedestrian behavior in emergency evacuations.