On the modelling of transportation evacuation: an agent-based discrete-event hybrid-space approach

This paper develops an agent‐based discrete‐event simulation (AB‐DES) modelling framework for transportation evacuation by integrating an event scheduling scheme into an agent‐based method. This framework has a unique hybrid simulation space that includes a continuous space and a flexible‐structured network. This hybrid space overcomes the cellular space limitation in cell‐based evacuation models and provides flexibilities in simulating different evacuation scenarios. Based on this AB‐DES framework, we create an evacuation AB‐DES model using the Parallel DEVS (Discrete‐EVent System specification) formalism. We develop an algorithm to employ the event‐scheduling approach to eliminate time‐step scheduling used in classic agent‐based models. Experimental results show that the AB‐DES model is significantly more efficient than a pure ABS model while keeping high model fidelity and the same model capabilities including agent cognitive capability, collision avoidance, and low agent‐to‐agent communication cost. The agents’ cognitive capability and autonomy property as well as the hybrid simulation space differentiate this AB‐DES model from classic pure discrete‐event models.