Human-Centric Virtual Reality Frameworks for Wayfinding and Evacuation in Complex Urban Environments

Abstract

In high-density urban environments, effective wayfinding and emergency evacuation are crucial for ensuring occupant safety and operational efficiency. Traditional spatial design and emergency planning approaches often struggle to accommodate the complexity and dynamic nature of user behavior, especially during critical incidents. This dissertation addresses these challenges by proposing and validating a human-centric framework that leverages advanced virtual reality (VR) technologies for comprehensive simulation, evaluation, and optimization of wayfinding and evacuation strategies in complex-built environments.

This research adopts a multi-stage methodology encompassing theoretical analysis, behavioral experimentation, system development, and empirical validation. First, a novel theoretical model of user wayfinding and evacuation behavior is established, integrating principles from environmental psychology, spatial cognition, and crowd dynamics. This model forms the basis for identifying the key determinants affecting user decisions, such as spatial complexity, signage design, route familiarity, and social influence.

To overcome the limitations of static and one-size-fits-all assessment methods, the dissertation develops an immersive VR-based simulation platform that enables detailed tracking and analysis of user behavior in various architectural and emergency scenarios. Agent-based modeling techniques are employed to represent diverse occupant profiles and real-time adaptations to changing spatial and social contexts. The platform also integrates digital twin technology, linking VR experiments with building information modeling (BIM) to facilitate scenario management and performance analytics.

A significant contribution of this work is the development of a user-centric automatic signage visibility evaluation (UASVE) system, which dynamically assesses signage effectiveness from the perspective of actual users in both routine and emergency situations. This enables designers and facility managers to identify gaps and improve signage layouts based on evidence collected through immersive experimentation.

Several case studies are conducted in representative urban facilities to validate the proposed frameworks and systems. The results show that the human-centric VR simulation approach yields significant improvements in wayfinding efficiency, signage compliance, and evacuation speed, while also uncovering critical behavioral patterns—such as the impact of spatial complexity and the nuanced effects of familiarity and crowd movement on decision making.

The dissertation also discusses the challenges faced, including technological limitations of VR hardware, sampling constraints, and the need for interoperability with existing building management infrastructures. Recommendations for future research include expanding to broader user groups, enhancing biometric data integration, and exploring AI-driven adaptive signage systems for real-time emergency response.

Overall, this research demonstrates the transformative potential of integrating VR, agent-based modeling, and digital twins to advance both the theory and practice of wayfinding and emergency management. The proposed human-centric framework not only advances scientific understanding of user behavior but also delivers practical tools and insights for creating safer, more navigable, and adaptive urban environments.

Date of Award	11 Sept 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Xiaowei LUO (Supervisor)