PedNStream: Scalable Network Flow Simulation for Pedestrian Traffic Management
2607.01021

Authors

Weiming Mai,Dorine Duives,Serge Hoogendoorn

Abstract

Large-scale crowd management requires pedestrian simulations that are both computationally efficient and compatible with feedback-based control. However, most open-source tools are either microscopic or not designed for network-scale closed-loop evaluation.

This paper presents PedNStream (Pedestrian Network Flow Simulation), an open-source, Python-native simulator for macroscopic pedestrian network loading based on the Link Transmission Model (LTM). The framework extends LTM-based pedestrian models by incorporating stochastic link dynamics that capture diffusion and activity-induced variability, and replaces dynamic user equilibrium route choice with a utility-based formulation suited to uncertain, intervention-driven settings.

PedNStream is implemented as a modular framework with built-in controller interfaces for interventions such as gating, flow separation, and route guidance. We evaluate the framework in a staged manner.

Synthetic scenarios verify key mechanisms, including queue formation, spillback, congestion dissipation, and adaptive rerouting. Real-network experiments assess large-scale behavior and consistency with observed pedestrian counts.

A closed-loop case study demonstrates controller integration, and a runtime analysis quantifies scalability. These results establish PedNStream as an efficient and practical testbed for large-scale pedestrian network simulation and control.

Resources

Ray graphicRay graphicRay graphicRay graphic

Stay in the loop

Every AI paper that matters, free in your inbox daily.

Details

  • takara.ai
  • Custom AI and machine learning from the Frontier Research Team.
  • © 2026 takara.ai Ltd
  • Content is sourced from third-party publications.
Ray graphicRay graphicRay graphic