Czy geometria przestrzeni może powodować lub zapobiegać powstawaniu tłoku?  
[Can geometry of space create or prevent crowd congestion?]

Pratik Mullick (Katedra Badań Operacyjnych i Inteligencji Biznesowej, PWr, Wrocław)


Understanding how people move through shared spaces is essential for designing 
safer, more efficient urban environments. We examine experimental data from 
pedestrian groups crossing at different angles to understand how the geometry of 
interaction shapes collective movement. Using a density-estimation method based on 
modified Voronoi partitions, we measure how local crowding evolves over time without 
relying on arbitrary spatial or temporal assumptions. We then analyze the 
relationship between walking speed and crowd density under different crossing 
configurations. Our results show that the angle at which pedestrian streams 
intersect fundamentally alters collective behavior: moderate crossing angles produce 
gradual performance declines, opposing flows lead to structured lane formation with 
predictable slowdowns, and unidirectional movement exhibits a different scaling 
pattern altogether. These findings demonstrate how small changes in spatial design 
can significantly influence coordination, congestion, and overall flow efficiency. 
By linking individual interactions to system-level outcomes, this research could be 
practically useful for urban planners, transport managers, and policymakers seeking 
to improve crowd management and public space design.