ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

The primary role of an escape plan is to provide a safe evacuation route to prevent the loss of life during emergencies. While fire, gun violence, natural disasters, etc. are the major emergencies that cause the loss of life, the common denominator in all of these emergencies is determining the immediate outcome of an escape plan. The design and planning of possible escape routes are vital for users of the premises to survive.

Despite established escape procedures which have been set in place by the South African National Standards, loss of life is still present. The possibility exists that the problem does not lie with the escape route procedures themselves but that it rather ties in with human behaviour during emergencies. Human beings, have a primal instinct to survive by any means necessary. During emergency scenarios human beings often display a like-minded behaviour known as “herd behaviour”. This concept refers to a group of people that follows individual members more or less blindly with a disregard for the rules that have been set out by management/health and safety. The fight, flight or freeze response in every person can overpower cognitive thinking during emergency situations and can contribute to casualties. With external, objective guidance, the number of casualties could be lowered significantly. Specific instructions guiding users to the nearest escape routes in the fastest time possible can reduce injuries and fatalities.

This study investigates the possibility of a mobile application providing real-time navigation during emergency situations. The mobile app is based on different emergency situations with a focus on fire escape routes. The virtual platform will provide users with the most efficient escape route based on their current location. Using a GPS signal to pinpoint the exact position in the building, the mobile app will use artificial intelligence to calculate an appropriate route and navigate the users to safety.

Herd behaviour is a contributing factor to the increase of casualties during emergency situations but, if not for herd behaviour in certain scenarios lives could have easily been lost aswell. This behaviour is woven into our very being to follow a group, to “fit in”.

The proposed mobile application should reduce the error margins significantly by providing the user clear and concise instructions to follow in case of emergency. The type of emergency, will determine the user instructions.

Keywords: escape route design and planning; herd behaviour; emergency scenarios; guidance; mobile app; human factor