TSVP Talk: The Physics of Flowing Human Crowds by Federico Toschi

Title: The Physics of Flowing Human Crowds

Speaker: Federico Toschi, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). 

Abstract: The dynamics of human crowds is a paramount example of active matter physics with outstanding societal relevance [1]. Understanding and predicting the dynamics of human crowds is key to our daily comfort and safety and efficiency when moving in crowded urban areas. On the basis of a vast collection of experimental recordings, of highly space- and time-accurate trajectories of single individuals in (dense) crowds, we discuss quantitative models capable of explaining and predicting, at a statistical level, the dynamics of human crowds in simple flow configurations [2]. In this talk, we will start by reviewing the basic phenomenology of human crowds, along with a discussion of the simple physics-based models formulated on the basis of Langevin equations and path integrals. Finally, we discuss the most generic phenomenology of human crowd flows and we present a model, based on the coupled dynamics of slow and fast variables, capable of quantitatively describing the behaviour of single individuals in a crowd under very general flow conditions. This model can be used as a framework to infer physics-based models from data.

Profile:  Federico Toschi is a full professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His research focuses on emerging complexity in challenging multiscale problems at the crossroads of statistical physics, fluid mechanics, soft condensed matter, and biophysics. Federico’s research employs experimental, numerical, and theoretical methods and covers, among other topics, fluid-dynamics turbulence; Lagrangian turbulence; thermal convection; complex fluids; soft condensed matter; active matter; crowd dynamics; scientific computing; and Lattice Boltzmann methods. Several of Federico’s research topics are strongly interdisciplinary and involve pushing the boundaries of physics across different disciplines.

[1] Corbetta, A. and Toschi, F., 2023. Physics of Human Crowds. Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics, 14.
[2] https://crowdflow.phys.tue.nl/

Language: English

Target audience: General audience/everyone at OIST and beyond.
Freely accessible to all OIST members and guests without registration.

This talk will also be broadcast online via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 993 1216 5065
Passcode: 603487

※ Please note that this event may be recorded and the videos uploaded. In addition, photos may be taken during the event. These are intended for publication online (the OIST website, social media, etc.)※