Jan 15
“Regime change through landscape architecture”
At least that’s one use Pruned sees possible for Paul Torren’s geosimulation of crowd behavior. The actual goals of the project are a bit more pedestrian — predicting crowd behavior, evaluating evacuation plans, assisting city planners, developers, and public safety and health officials.
Torren, at the Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences, says the model “will serve as an experimental, but wholly realistic, environment for exploring ‘what-if’ and unforeseen scenarios of relevance to cities and their citizens.”
According to an ASU press release:
In the areas of public safety and homeland security, the model can be used to examine questions asking how pedestrian interactions with cars can be minimized; what the early signs of antisocial behavior in large crowds are and how polarizing influences can be neutralized; and what strategies might be used to compel antisocial crowds into compliance without the use of force.
Torren is also using his expertise in a 3 year longitudinal study investigating patterns of behavior among children ages 3-5.
(via Instapundit and Schneier on Security)
