2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of a system to steer crowds through imperceptible modifications of the surrounding environment
| Project/Area Number |
20K14992
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
フェリシャーニ クラウディオ 東京大学, 先端科学技術研究センター, 特任准教授 (40870035)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | behavior / crowd / color / light / sound / cognition |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Because of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many field experiments planned for the initial year had not been possible. However, alternative experiments were made on the same topic with the intent to achieve results in line to the initial proposal.
The analysis of old experiments performed in 2019 confirmed that people can be steered using colors and congestion can be avoided with a proper configuration where red and green are used. The effect of colors was clear over long periods of time and especially under medium crowd densities.
In light of this, 2 LiDAR sensors had been installed in the entrance of the campus with the intent to change users' habits by using color, lights and sound. Sensors had been tested this year and real-life data will be collected over the next year.
Also, experiments on VR showed that sound and vision can affect drivers' behavior, thus further confirming that the environment has an effect on people's behavior.
To better understand theory on cognition and psychology, an online questionnaire was also prepared to understand how the living environment can affect people behavior on their daily lives. Variables such as gender, cultural background and the density of population were studied in regard to the sexless phenomenon to understand whether causes are related to environmental factors.
Finally, a group was created to perform experiments on bees. Experts on biology, beekeepers and professionals working on sensors have started working together to compare hive conditions in a remote area (Fujinomiya) and in a metropolitan context (Ginza).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Plans had to be adapted due to the COVID-19 pandemics, but the use of VR, online surveys and the collection of real-life data using LiDAR sensors is making the need of crowd experiments less important.
For the above reasons, despite the change in methods employed the overall project is progressing rather smoothly. Also, the increased used of video-call has allowed to create a multidisciplinary group to work on bees, where both technical and biological knowledge is needed.
However, experiments on crabs had not been possible because it was not allowed (or generally not safe) to bring students assisting for the experiments (a moderate number of people is needed to mark crabs considering the short time in which experiments are possible).
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In this year, data collected through the online survey will be analyzed more in detail using a statistical model. Also, I plan to collect data on the daily habits of people using LiDAR sensors and eventually try to change their behavior using light, colors and sound.
Finally, data on hive and environment conditions will be collected on a tentative base, mainly to test the hardware. During the final year more detailed data on bees will be collected.
Hopefully, experiments on crabs could be possible in autumn. To make sure that success is guaranteed videos from previous experiments will be also analyzed more in detail.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic experiments on crabs had not been possible as well as experiments involving crowds and human participants. Regarding humans alternative solutions could be found (online surveys, VR, real-life data collection), but for crabs only field experiments are possible.
The amount to be transferred will be used as soon as the pandemic is over to perform the necessary experiments on crabs.
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