Factors Influencing the Evacuation of People from Underground Spaces Used for Transport and Operations During Emergency Events
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46544/k14e9j37Keywords:
evacuation, underground spaces, emergency, escape routes, smoke, human factors, rescue services.Abstract
The evacuation of people from transport and operationally used underground spaces is a complex process influenced by the characteristics of the space, the availability and passability of escape routes, technical equipment, environmental conditions, and human behavior. The aim of this article is to identify and systematize the main factors affecting evacuation safety and to compare them with published experimental findings and the requirements of selected technical standards. The study was based on a structured narrative and comparative analysis of scientific literature focusing primarily on evacuation from tunnels and other transport and operationally used underground spaces. After applying the predefined selection criteria, 38 scientific publications were included in the detailed content analysis, while the normative part comprised 8 technical and normative documents. Attention was paid to movement speed in smoke-filled environments, escape-route choice, wayfinding, and the effects of reduced visibility. To compare the significance of the individual factors, three model scenarios were developed: a fire accompanied by smoke, a hazardous gas release, and an explosion associated with the partial blockage of a communication route. The result is a systematization framework comprising six groups of factors—spatial, technical, environmental, human, organizational, and emergency-response factors—supplemented by a temporal assessment of evacuation based on the relationship between Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) and Available Safe Egress Time (ASET). The results indicate that the significance of individual factors varies depending on the nature of the emergency and the current conditions along the escape routes.
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