AiS Challenge Team Abstract

Team Number: 003

School Name: Any School USA

Area of Science: Behavioral

Project Title: "Let's Get Outta Here!"

Many schools are currently experiencing severe overcrowding. Although the state requires that students practice emergency evacuation of their school they do not know how effective it will be in reality. Although it is difficult to accurately model the behavior and panic that some individuals will experience, this will be compounded by the physical constraints of the physical space they occupy. These critical factors will be the most important aspects used to calculate how many people will survive in a threatening situation.

The purpose of this project is to determine the number of individuals that can be successfully evacuated from a confined area, such as a school, based on behaviors of individuals and building constraints. Therefore it will also be a tool that can help administrators decide what the maximum number of students should be in each classroom.

Starlogo will be used to simulate the physical design of a school building by designating patches to represent a model of a particular building. Individuals will be given a level of panic, which may depend on age or proximity to the fire or other threatening event. Sliders will be used to allow the user to apply the program to their own particular situation.

Team Members

• Team Members: Shirley Maurer – Farmington High
• Robert Dryja – Desert Academy
• Debra Loftin – Rio Rancho Mid-High
• Rebecca Raulie – Melrose

Sponsoring Teacher(s)

• Nick Bennett

Project Mentor(s)

• Willard Smith