Chapter 9: A Novel Calibration Approach of Microscopic Pedestrian Models

This contribution aims at providing a generic approach to the calibration of microscopic pedestrian models. In doing so, it proposes a new generic calibration methodology for microscopic pedestrian models using pedestrian trajectory data as the prime data source. The method allows for statistical analysis of the parameter estimates, including their cross-correlations. As a further extension of the method, the inclusion of prior information on the parameters of the model, their distribution, and their cross-relations is proposed. As a direct result, other data sources can be included in the model calibration, such as capacity observations.

The application results provide new insights into the behavior of individual pedestrians, inter-pedestrian differences, as well as the resulting pedestrian flow characteristics. By comparing different models of increasing complexity, it is investigated which of the model amendments are significant from a statistical point of view. It is shown that besides anisotropy, finite reaction times play an important role in correctly describing microscopic walking behavior.