Title: Agent-based simulation model for evacuation operations in fire disasters
Authors: Jawad Abusalama; Sazalinsyah Razali; Yun-Huoy Choo; Ali Attajer
Addresses: Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Durian Tunggal, Malaysia; College of Engineering and Computer Science, Mustaqbal University, Buraydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia ' Centre for Robotics and Industrial Automation, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Durian Tunggal, Malaysia; Center for Advanced Computing Technology (C-ACT), Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Durian Tunggal, Malaysia ' Center for Advanced Computing Technology (C-ACT), Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Durian Tunggal, Malaysia ' Institut de Recherche de la Construction, ESTP, 28 Avenue du Président Wilson, F-94230, Cachan, France
Abstract: Fire disasters pose significant challenges for timely evacuation due to various factors like human behaviour and structural configurations. This paper aims to address this issue by developing an intelligent agent-based simulation model for evacuation operations during such disasters. The model facilitates critical decision-making for efficient evacuation, where five intelligent agents are utilised in the model to simulate realistic scenarios. Evaluation through comparison studies and sensitivity analysis demonstrates the efficacy of the developed model. Results indicate its superiority over three alternative models in most experiments. Effective evacuation operations are crucial in minimising the severe consequences of fire disasters and saving lives. This paper contributes to the advancement of methods for managing such crises, ultimately reducing losses and enhancing disaster preparedness.
Keywords: agent-based simulation; ABS; disasters; evacuation operations; multi-agent system; MAS.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2025.148302
International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2025 Vol.22 No.1/2, pp.127 - 145
Received: 24 Apr 2024
Accepted: 20 Jul 2024
Published online: 01 Sep 2025 *