Recent research by Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, a Florida Institute of Technology doctoral student and Fulbright Scholar, indicates that various crowd formations exacerbate or minimize injuries and fatalities in the event of a pedestrian suicide bomb attack.
His work was conducted through virtual simulation. It showed that the crowd formation experiencing the worst effects is a circular one, with a 51 percent death rate and 42 percent injury rate, thus reaching 93 percent effectiveness. A person that is in line-of-sight with the attacker, rushing toward the exit or in a stampede was found to be in the least safe position.
The safest way to stand or sit in a crowd, Usmani found, was in vertical rows.
“Zeeshan is one of the most talented students I have met. His ability to grasp and integrate distinct unrelated topics is impressive,” said Richard Griffith, Ph.D., Florida Tech associate professor and program chair, Industrial/ Organizational Psychology program.
His findings, though preliminary, may have implications for emergency response and counter-terrorism activities. He plans to continue the research, integrating several physical and social variables into the simulation. These include modeling physical objects such as landscape and furniture, and such social variables as crowd behaviors.
“There are many applications for this simulation, from special event planning to emergency response,” said Usmani.
Source: Florida Institute of Technology
Related stories:
Researcher Models Effects of a Suicide Bombing: Results of Crowd Configurations
Recent research by Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, a Florida Institute of Technology doctoral student and Fulbright Scholar, indicates that various crowd formations exacerbate or minimize injuries and fatalities in the event of a pedestrian suicide bomb attack.
Tug of War in the Cells
Transport processes in the cells of our body resemble the transport of goods on the roads. Molecular motors, which are special protein molecules, act as trucks. They carry the cellular cargo on piggy-back and transport it along microtubules, which are the roads of the cell. However, the molecular transporters are a billion times smaller than trucks and can only move as far as the beginning or end of the microtubule, depending on their type.
Panasonic Unveils 3D 1080p Plasma HDTV On Single Blu-Ray Disc At CEATEC Japan 2008
Panasonic unveiled the latest technology in 3D 1080p on a 100-inch plasma HDTV. According to Panasonic, the 3D innovation was demonstrated at CEATEC Japan 2008 using a Panasonic 100-inch plasma and a Blu-Ray player to deliver full 1080p HD video with separate views to each eye. The infinitesimal differences between the two video streams create the 3D effect in the brain. The Panasonic difference is the ability to create a sustained full high-definition experience. Viewers will need polarized glasses to get the full effect. The old multi-color 3D card board goggles are not necessary which is a good thing.
Sensitive nanowire disease detectors made by Yale scientists
Yale scientists have created nanowire sensors coupled with simple microprocessor electronics that are both sensitive and specific enough to be used for point-of-care (POC) disease detection, according to a report in
Nano Letters.
Moose killing riles Michigan town
Some residents of the town of Ishpeming, Mich., are furious at police officers and a state biologist who killed a female moose that wandered into town, leaving its twin calves to fend for themselves during the winter.
Cutting HIV: male circumcision booms in Uganda
Like many cultural events, a male circumcision ceremony in eastern Uganda has its share of governing rules: the "candidate" is not supposed to see the surgeon until seconds before the cutting and his mother cannot be present.
Venus flytraps caught in shrinking natural habitat
(AP) -- Laura Gadd pauses at the edge of a pristine savanna, delicately lifting her feet to avoid trampling any venus flytraps hidden underfoot.
Showgoers viewing fare on screen, not stage
(AP) -- As the house lights dim and the maestro lifts his arms, a hush comes over the crowd. It's opening night at The Metropolitan Opera - only we're 2,800 miles away.