On the Use of Cellular Automation Model for Studying Lift Evacuation in Super High-rise Buildings

Description

Nowadays, developers are competing to develop super high-rise buildings and the height of such skyscrapers is getting taller and taller. The researchers cannot rule out the possibility of erecting buildings higher than the 167-story Burj Dubai in future. The researchers understand that absolute prevention of disasters and restricting their spread may be impossible. Evacuation of people from the hazardous zones of these skyscrapers is per se a way to reduce the ill effects of disasters and is prima facie a critical component in emergency management. The WTC 9/11 incident caused them to review the philosophy of evacuation in super high-rise buildings. Total evacuation may be required to consider in some scenarios. However, it is exhaustive for evacuees to move from the high zones of these buildings to the ground level by their own effort. In addition, disabled and aged people may also be impossible to use staircase for egress. The use of lift (elevator) to supplement the evacuation process is actively reviewed by several major building fire research institutions in the world. Much effort has been put to establish an effective protection to the lift. However, the evacuation process and the interaction of evacuees and lift operation have not been studied in detail. The aim of this project is to develop a microscopic cellular automation lift evacuation model to explore the tactic behavior of evacuees and the movement pattern of the evacuation process. The simulation results can be adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of lift evacuation and assist the design of lift operation mode for lift evacuation strategies. It can also provide insight to the positioning of refuge areas and means of access for firefighting personnel.