crowddensity

Crowd density refers to the concentration of people in a given area, usually expressed as the number of individuals per unit area (for example, per square meter). It can be described as local density, which looks at the density around a specific location or person, and global density, an area-wide average.

Measurement methods include manual counts, video-based tracking, and sensor data. Local density can be estimated using methods like Voronoi tessellations from positional data; flow, speed, and direction describe dynamic aspects.

Factors affecting density include space layout, ingress/egress design, time, event type, and crowd behavior. Densities increase near bottlenecks, exits, or attractions. High density reduces mobility and can lead to dangerous conditions like trampling or crushing; safety guidelines emphasize maintaining adequate flow and escape routes.

Applications include event planning, urban design, transportation hubs, and emergency evacuation planning. Management strategies include barriers, signage, one-way flows, timed entry, real-time monitoring, and crowd managers.

The study of crowd density is part of crowd dynamics. Models include social force models, cellular automata, and fluid or granular flow analogies. Data-driven approaches use video analytics and sensor networks.