Exploring the Complexity of Pedestrian Dynamics: Impact of Societal Behaviors and Personal Attributes in Urban Environments

Pedestrian dynamics in urban environments are influenced by a complex interplay of physical, environmental, social, cultural, psychological, and health-related factors. This study investigates pedestrian dynamics, focusing on the impact of social and cultural factors such as dress codes and gender at the operational decision-making level, and explores how these factors, along with societal norms, values, and practices, shape pedestrian behavior in various facilities. We focus on pedestrian facilities in real-world and experimental contexts in Iran, examining the roles of gender and specific dress codes, including Islamic clothing such as the hijab. Data were gathered from sidewalks and signalized and unsignalized intersections, and during evacuation drills in Iran, using video recordings to capture pedestrian movements and behaviors. We developed and calibrated the culturally informed social force model (CISFM), an extension of the traditional social force model (SFM), to incorporate cultural and social parameters. Our key findings reveal notable disparities in pedestrian behavior based on gender and clothing type, particularly the traditional Iranian Chador and Manteau. Women generally exhibited slower walking speeds, while clothing type significantly influenced group dynamics and awareness of surroundings. The calibrated CISFM showed improved predictive capabilities in various urban settings, except in emergency evacuation scenarios. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of pedestrian dynamics, highlighting the need for pedestrian models to integrate cultural and social factors for more accurate and representative simulations, especially in multicultural urban environments.