Crowd evacuation analysis of the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy

A simulation model of crowd evacuation in the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi reveals that optimizing exit flow can significantly reduce stationary waiting times and lower the risk of spontaneous panic during emergencies. The study, conducted by Garzia et al. (2019), analyzed the interaction between the basilica's architecture and visitor behavior to improve safety for millions of annual pilgrims and tourists. The findings provide actionable insights for managing evacuations in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, balancing cultural heritage preservation with modern safety engineering.

Garzia, F., Marsella, S., sciarretta, N., Lombardi, M., Rossi, G., & Guarascio, M. (2019). Crowd evacuation analysis of the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering, 9(3), 316–331. https://doi.org/10.2495/safe-v9-n4-316-331