Comparison of the stepping behavior for elderly group with or without horizontal interaction

Nowadays, the increasing aging population is a worldwide challenge. It is of vital importance to study the dynamic behavior of the elderly group. Research on the stepping behavior of the elderly is limited and the effect of horizontal interactions from neighbors has not been observed. The impacts of the horizontal interactions on stepping behaviors are studied for the first time. Factors of density and speed are considered. The negative influence of horizontal interaction on the step length becomes more obvious under higher density. The speed of body-sway motion v(y) is determined by the pedestrian group composition and the forward speed v(x) but has no relation to neighbors. Results in this paper can help us profoundly understand the movement characteristics of the elderly. In addition, the lateral interaction should be considered in the theoretical model simulating stepping behaviors of pedestrians for it has significant influences on step size and speed.

Automated summary

The increasing aging population presents a global challenge, making it crucial to study the dynamic behavior of the elderly group. This study examines the impact of horizontal interactions between neighbors on stepping behaviors, considering factors such as density and speed. Results show that higher density leads to a stronger negative influence on step length, and that lateral interaction significantly affects step size and speed in elderly pedestrians.