AEC TECH NEWS: Oasys announces major new features for MassMotion 3D pedestrian simulation

MassMotion 9.0 is a major release of the Oasys 3D pedestrian simulation software that was developed in 2003. Core new features of Oasys MassMotion 9.0 are:

• Easier import of assets from all the leading 3D and 2D CAD packages which are combined into a single BIM-compatible 3D model, with object snap for even faster model building. This provides ‘live’ links between different levels and areas of complex structures, providing a window on the entire and continuous pedestrian experience. In a 3D MassMotion model agents don’t just disappear from one area and pop up in another – you can follow them up the stairs and escalators, etc. where risks of congestion or obstruction are just as high
• MassMotion’s intelligent agents can now respond dynamically to both personal agendas and user-defined external stimuli (triggers). This is particularly useful as pedestrian simulation is now routinely used in virtually every stage of major projects, not just for evacuation planning. Designers and engineers want to investigate a much wider range of scenarios and opportunities.
• The sector’s first Software Development Kit for advanced users makes it easier to factor in exceptional or unusual events or pedestrian behavior such as for older people (who move slowly) or children (who don’t slow down on stairs and who defy the normal speed/density ratios.)

MassMotion puts intelligent agents in 3D models to give insight into how a building will perform. These 3D models are easily built from scratch or by importing and combining existing 3D and 2D CAD assets. MassMotion pedestrian simulation is therefore a logical extension to the design process for any project where efficient pedestrian flow is critical. It is also the most powerful tool available for evacuation planning, and licenses ideally tailored for dedicated egress use are available.

MassMotion quickly reveals the way that crowds will move through a building as they encounter stairs, doors, ticket gates and each other. It highlights points of congestion and its 3D visualizations reveal opportunities for improvement. What’s more it does all of this remarkably quickly – once the model is built, analyses can be run in minutes or hours with little or no additional programming. Designers and engineers have the information they need to move forward with a project. Testing alternative scenarios becomes easy, economical, and risk free. MassMotion saves time, money and manpower during planning, construction and operational phases of a building life cycle.

3D modelling

MassMotion 9.0 builds further on the advances in modelling tools introduced in V 8.0, which introduced built-in modelling tools alongside improved IFC import and automatic geometry mapping to save time and effort.

Enhanced support for all the leading file interchange formats ensures that MassMotion works seamlessly with information generated in any CAD program. 3D and 2D assets, created in different CAD programs can be imported and combined to create a single MassMotion model, so that pedestrian simulation fits seamlessly with any project workflow.

Agent dynamics

MassMotion has been described as offering analyses that are as near to real life as is possible, and that is even more so with V9.0.  It does not determine what agents do: rather their behavior is based on decades of academic research and social modelling. MassMotion gives them an individual agenda, to get from A to B, and shows users how they behave.

Now, with MassMotion V9.0 users also have tools to tailor the built-in algorithms and define venue-specific external trigger events such as crowd density, time of day, running out of seating space or even exceptional weather or events. Agents in a MassMotion model will then respond intelligently to these external triggers as well as the internal agendas they have been given.

Software Development Kit

Advanced tools, developed in conjunction with the global pedestrian simulation research community, enable users to define a wider range of agent parameters if required.

Scalable analysis

MassMotion users have industry-leading analysis tools. Using a high-performance database to store and retrieve simulation results, users can call on a variety of built-in graphing, mapping and filtering tools.

This methodology is highly scalable for very large crowds and for simulation scenarios that can cover multiple days; and it enables users to develop custom analysis based on spatial, temporal, operational, and personal characteristics of people and their environment. It is also possible to combine multiple result sets at the same time and view as a single analysis.

User interface

MassMotion’s intuitive user interface streamlines creation of actions, process chains, timetables and agent development, as well as offering quick access to enhanced analysis options.

Native high-quality real-time 3D graphics, direct image/video capture and straightforward data export give users the power and flexibility to building diagrams, animations and presentations with ease.

Visit www.oasys-software.com for more information.