This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

Alleviating Escape Panic Using Evolutionary Intelligence

Date

2006-05-15

Author

Darnell, Shelby

Type of Degree

Project

Department

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Abstract

Reducing damage, danger, and panic by evolving room designs is possible with artificial intelligence. Escape panic, brought on by groups of people being in a life-threatening situation, increases the fatality rate and level of property damage incurred during unfortunate disasters. Currently buildings are designed to a code that tells how many exits a room should possess, but the code doesn't specify where to place the doors and exactly how many doors there should be in room designs to help alleviate damages to people and property. A genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimizer will be used to find a room design to help alleviate this problem.