... placed on each exit and the evacuation is efficiently effected. The approach owes a considerable debt to fluid dynamics and is often known as the "hydraulic" or 'Travel/Flow' model. In this model, the occupants are often referred to as "automata" or "ball-bearings". Ironically, consideration of the occupants in this way (unthinking, least-resistance-seeking agents) contradicts the requirement for them to immediately understand that the alarm is conveying a warning of danger indicating that they should immediately react and consciously select the most appropriate route according to the existing loading: clearly, this does not happen spontaneously. Furthermore, Dr Keith Still in his thesis on crowd movement showed specific examples of non-fluidic behaviour in crowds e.g. 'fingering' in crowds. And shortcuts being taken by members of the crowd and unequal distribution within the crowd. Both of the above pictures are taken from Dr Keith Still's thesis (available on line at www.crowddynamics.com. Accessed on ...

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