Evaluating Geographic Influences on Pedestrian Evacuation Using Cellular Automata: a Case Study of Sete Cidades National Park in Wildfire Scenarios

• Nathália Beatriz Leonel Santos IFMT
• Danielli Araújo Lima IFMT

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wcama.2025.7920

Resumo

The study of pedestrian evacuation dynamics is a field of much relevance for risk assessment and formation of plans aiming to minimize negative impacts in emergency situations. In this work, our objective is to create computational simulations using cellular automata around the pedestrian evacuation behavior on the Sete Cidades National Park, considering its high tourist activity. To this end, different geographical features were abstracted, with emphasis on the heterogenous vegetation and various relief altitudes, in order to evaluate the impact on evacuation times and routes. Additionally, wildfire propagation was also included in the model, introducing a realistic aspect for safety analysis on distinct regions of the park. Through this study, we sought to assist in the definition of evacuation policies on the target location, thus helping guarantee safe interactions between society and the environment1.

Referências

Alizadeh, R. (2011). A dynamic cellular automaton model for evacuation process with obstacles. Safety Science, 49(2):315–323.

Brasiel, H. C. and Lima, D. A. (2023). Exploring the influence of wind, vegetation and water sources on the spread of forest fires in the Brazilian Cerrado Biome using Cel lular Automata. In Workshop de Computação Aplicada à Gestão do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (WCAMA), pages 61–70. SBC.

Brasiel, H. C. and Lima, D. A. (2024). Parameter analysis in Probabilistic Cellular Automaton model for fire spread simulation in Sete Cidades National Park. In Workshop de Computação Aplicada à Gestão do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (WCAMA), pages 101–110. SBC.

Gao, D., Xie, W., Cao, R., Weng, J., and Lee, E. W. M. (2023). The performance of cumulative prospect theory’s functional forms in decision-making behavior during building evacuation. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 99:104132.

Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (2023). Plano de Manejo Integrado do Fogo do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades. Available in: [link]. Accessed March 5, 2025.

Li, Y., Hu, B., Zhang, D., Gong, J., Song, Y., and Sun, J. (2019). Flood evacuation simulations using cellular automata and multiagent systems-a human-environment relationship perspective. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 33(11):2241–2258.

Matos, M. d. Q. and Felfili, J. M. (2010). Florística, fitossociologia e diversidade da vegetação arbórea nas matas de galeria do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades (PNSC), Piauí, Brasil. Acta botânica brasílica, 24:483–496.

Moore, E. F. (1962). Machine models of self-reproduction. In Proceedings of symposia in applied mathematics, volume 14, pages 17–33. American Mathematical Society New York.

Santos, N. B. L. and Lima, D. A. (2024). Análise do deslocamento de pedestres em emergências: Simulação de autômatos celulares no Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades. EnPE, 11(01.).

Setur, A. (2024). Melhorias no Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades fortalecem o turismo no Piauí. Available in: [link]. Accessed March 7, 2025.

Varas, A., Cornejo, M., Mainemer, D., Toledo, B., Rogan, J., Munoz, V., and Valdivia, J. (2007). Cellular automaton model for evacuation process with obstacles. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 382(2):631–642.

Von Neumann, J., Burks, A. W., et al. (1966). Theory of self-reproducing automata. University of Illinois press Urbana.

Wang, L., Liu, M., and Meng, B. (2013). Incorporating topography in a cellular automata model to simulate residents evacuation in a mountain area in China. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 392(3):520–528.

Zheng, Y., Jia, B., Li, X.-G., and Zhu, N. (2011). Evacuation dynamics with fire spreading based on cellular automaton. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 390(18-19):3147–3156.