Tuning procedure for evacuation models based on egress drills

A large number of evacuation models are nowadays available and deal with the challenge of modelling human behaviour in case of fire. Their numerical approach is often conceptually different, especially regarding the “primary force” driving human movement in space (minimizing the distance, the time, or more complex psychological functions). However, what they have in common is their strong sensitivity to some of the numerous parameters that must be defined during the input process. This aspect is to be considered when using evacuation models, especially because these parameters are likely to be affected by large uncertainties. This paper shows how starting from a literature-based modelling more realistic results can be possibly reached by modifying few input parameters according to an egress drill carried out in the multi-storey school building of firefighters of the Central Directorate of Prevention and Technical Safety in Rome.