PedNStream Simulates Pedestrian Traffic for Crowd Management

Managing large crowds effectively requires simulation tools that are both computationally efficient and compatible with real-time feedback for control. Existing open-source pedestrian simulation tools often fall short, either being too detailed (microscopic) or not designed for network-scale, closed-loop evaluation. This new open-source project, PedNStream, addresses these limitations.PedNStream is a Python-native simulator that models pedestrian network flow at a macroscopic level, building upon the Link Transmission Model. It introduces stochastic link dynamics to account for variability and uses a utility-based approach for route choice, which is more appropriate for scenarios involving interventions like rerouting or gating. The framework includes built-in interfaces for various control mechanisms, making it a practical testbed for designing and evaluating large-scale pedestrian management strategies.