|
Abstract
|
This paper examines the passengers' way finding in a train station under normal and emergency conditions, with a particular focus on the passengers' understanding and rating of the location of emergency exit signs, emergency buttons, evacuation maps and the assembly area. A questionnaire survey of 1127 passengers in a train station in Melbourne, Australia, shows that respondents are not homogeneous in their perceptions and understanding of evacuation information, tools and procedure.
Although the majority of respondents are familiar with the Melbourne train station and are of the opinion that it is easy to navigate the train station, they are not aware of the emergency evacuation way finding tools and procedure. More specifically, a significant proportion of the respondents do not know the emergency exit location (43.2%), evacuation plans/maps location (58.7%), the content of the evacuation plans/maps (56.8%), emergency red button location (41.6%), location of the assembly area (66.5%), and a quick way to the assembly area (66.3%).
In terms of demographic differences, results from the ordered logit and generalised ordered logit models demonstrate that there are some differences in the understanding of way finding tools between males and females as well as among the different age groups.
Our findings can assist managers of emergency response in developing appropriate strategies, design solutions, trainings, and education campaigns for effective and safe evacuation. Moreover, the results are a valuable resource in developing and verifying mathematical and theoretical models aiming to study passengers' evacuation in a train station.
Language: en |