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Spontaneous synchronization of motion in pedestrian crowds of different densities

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Ma

    (Sichuan University)

  • Eric Wai Ming Lee

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Meng Shi

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Richard Kwok Kit Yuen

    (City University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Interacting pedestrians in a crowd spontaneously adjust their footsteps and align their respective stepping phases. This self-organization phenomenon is known as synchronization. However, it is unclear why and how synchronization forms spontaneously under different density conditions, or what functional benefit synchronization offers for the collective motion of humans. Here, we conducted a single-file crowd motion experiment that directly tracked the alternating movement of both legs of interacting pedestrians. We show that synchronization is most likely to be triggered at the same density at which the flow rate of pedestrians reaches a maximum value. We demonstrate that synchronization is established in response to an insufficient safety distance between pedestrians, and that it enables pedestrians to realize efficient collective stepping motion without the occurrence of inter-person collisions. These findings provide insights into the collective motion behaviour of humans and may have implications for understanding pedestrian synchronization-induced wobbling, for example, of bridges.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Ma & Eric Wai Ming Lee & Meng Shi & Richard Kwok Kit Yuen, 2021. "Spontaneous synchronization of motion in pedestrian crowds of different densities," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 447-457, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1038_s41562-020-00997-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-00997-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Igor Belykh & Mateusz Bocian & Alan R. Champneys & Kevin Daley & Russell Jeter & John H. G. Macdonald & Allan McRobie, 2021. "Emergence of the London Millennium Bridge instability without synchronisation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Wei, Yidong & Hu, Zuoan & Zeng, Tian & Xie, Wei & Ma, Yi, 2023. "Influence of walkway slope on single-file pedestrian flow dynamics: Results from an experimental study," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 630(C).
    3. Xue, Shuqi & Shiwakoti, Nirajan, 2023. "A meta-synthesis of experimental studies of pedestrian movement in single-file flow," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 630(C).
    4. Liu, Weisong & Zhang, Jun & Rasa, Abdul Rahim & Li, Xudong & Ren, Xiangxia & Song, Weiguo, 2023. "Understanding step synchronization in social groups: A novel method to recognize group," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 628(C).
    5. Lian, Liping & Ye, Rui & Xia, Long & Song, Weiguo & Zhang, Jun & Li, Xiaolian, 2022. "Pedestrian dynamics in single-file merging flows," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 600(C).
    6. Li, Jinghai & Zheng, Xiaoping, 2023. "Experimental investigation of the stepping dynamics of upstairs walking under time pressure," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 622(C).
    7. Subramanian, Gayathri Harihara & Choubey, Nipun & Verma, Ashish, 2022. "Modelling and simulating serpentine group behaviour in crowds using modified social force model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 604(C).

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