Crowd Simulation: Grand Départ

Crowd simulation at the Jaarbuursplein in Utrecht during a large-scale event
Virtual Grand Départ visitors at the Jaarbeursplein

Crowd simulations in a virtual environment helped the municipal government of Utrecht in planning the surroundings of the cycling course and testing the prognoses for the flows of the spectators. These preparations for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France were carried out by dr. Roland Geraerts and his team in collaboration with the engineering and consulting bureau Movares.

By running several scenarios, the city of Utrecht decided to lower the expected number of pedestrians in certain areas by installing a pedestrian-bridge, ensuring one-way traffic at some places, and moving some fences.