Crowds and Building Design (04-07-10)

How people in crowds physically organize themselves is important – it influences how groups will respond in emergency situations.  Group leaders, who play a crucial role in most crises, position themselves at the edge of groups and not in the middle of them.  This finding has implications for the shape of spaces through which people will evacuate a structure, for example.

“Follow the Leader:  How Those in Charge Make Themselves Known.”  2010.  Press release, University of Leeds, http://www.leeds.ac.uk.