Title : The Computational Science Lab

Presenter Alfons Hoekstra
Abstract Guest Presenter: Alfons Hoekstra, Computational Science Lab, Institute for Informatics, University of Amsterdam I will introduce the Computational Science Lab at IvI/UvA, our focus on dynamic multi-scale complex systems, our data-driven modelling & simulation approach, and the people behind the lab. Next I will summarise specific research themes, with a biased focus on my own main interest, Computational Biomedicine.

Title : Building and Validating Models of Human Crowds: A Complex Systems Approach

Presenter Dr. Michael Lees
Abstract Guest Presenter:Building and Validating Models of Human Crowds: A Complex Systems Approach. In this talk I will describe an approach to the modelling and simulation of human crowds. By developing accurate models of human crowds the hope is to be able to predict and perhaps manage mass gatherings of people, or enable safer architectural design. There have been numerous attempts at modelling crowds over the past two decades, here I will highlight one approach which uses agent-based modelling. While agent-based modelling offers a very natural approach for modelling human crowds it does introduce significant challenges. Firstly, how to build a model capable of capturing human-like decisions. Secondly how to validate the model output. This talk will cover work in these areas and finally discuss ways in which these findings might be used to help make large human gatherings safer.