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Article
Publication date: 7 March 2016

R Lohner, Muhammad Baqui, Eberhard Haug and Britto Muhamad

The purpose of this paper is to develop a first-principles model for the simulation of pedestrian flows and crowd dynamics capable of computing the movement of a million…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a first-principles model for the simulation of pedestrian flows and crowd dynamics capable of computing the movement of a million pedestrians in real-time in order to assess the potential safety hazards and operational performance at events where many individuals are gathered. Examples of such situations are sport and music events, cinemas and theatres, museums, conference centres, places of pilgrimage and worship, street demonstrations, emergency evacuation during natural disasters.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is based on a series of forces, such as: will forces (the desire to reach a place at a certain time), pedestrian collision avoidance forces, obstacle/wall avoidance forces; pedestrian contact forces, and obstacle/wall contact forces. In order to allow for general geometries a so-called background triangulation is used to carry all geographic information. At any given time the location of any given pedestrian is updated on this mesh. The model has been validated qualitatively and quantitavely on repeated occasions. The code has been ported to shared and distributed memory parallel machines.

Findings

The results obtained show that the stated aim of computing the movement of a million pedestrians in real-time has been achieved. This is an important milestone, as it enables faster-than-real-time simulations of large crowds (stadiums, airports, train and bus stations, concerts) as well as evacuation simulations for whole cities.

Research limitations/implications

All models are wrong, but some are useful. The same applies to any modelling of pedestrians. Pedestrians are not machines, so stochastic runs will be required in the future in order to obtain statistically relevant ensembles.

Practical implications

This opens the way to link real-time data gathering of crowds (i.e. via cameras) with predictive calculations done faster than real-time, so that security personnel can be alerted to potential future problems during large-scale events.

Social implications

This will allow much better predictions for large-scale events, improving security and comfort.

Originality/value

This is the first time such speeds have been achieved for a micro-modelling code for pedestrians.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 33 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 18 August 2021

Mst Tania Parvin and Regina Birner

This paper aims to examine the governance challenges confronted by a government microcredit program in Bangladesh following a case study approach.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the governance challenges confronted by a government microcredit program in Bangladesh following a case study approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel qualitative research tool called process net-map (PNM) was applied to develop a framework for visual understanding of the exact credit implementation process and to identify the actors responsible for creating governance challenges. Key informant interviews were also conducted to identify and distinguish the challenges faced by both the supply-side and demand-side stakeholders.

Findings

The findings reveal that the studied case faced problems in allocating adequate resources to human and physical capacity development. It was combined with the shortage of funds that made it impossible to meet the clients’ expectations. The lack of legal and regulatory framework disabled the organization from controlling political influence and corruption in the system. Moreover, the policy of lending only to groups proved counterproductive as it led to the exclusion of potentially viable borrowers.

Practical implications

The key recommendation of the study is on increasing the microcredit fund and a reform of the group lending policy along with several other recommendations.

Originality/value

The PNM is a newly developed participatory mapping technique that has not been applied in the field of microfinance. Therefore, the use of this method may add new knowledge of conducting an in-depth analysis of why such challenges are associated with mostly public microfinance programs and how they are linked to the implementation process. The challenges encountered are relevant for the implementation of developmental programs that are dependent on the allocation of public funds.

Details

Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4179

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1999

Sukor Kasim

In a paper entitled ‘On reaching the poor’, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder and the managing director of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh (GBB), reasoned that

394

Abstract

In a paper entitled ‘On reaching the poor’, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder and the managing director of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh (GBB), reasoned that

Details

Humanomics, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0828-8666

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