Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-981-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-981-2026
Research article
 | 
27 Feb 2026
Research article |  | 27 Feb 2026

Human decision-making in crowds in a virtual flood scenario

Booloot Arshaghi, Glyn Lawson, Riccardo Briganti, and Peer-Olaf Siebers

Video supplement

Example Video Footage of Risky Crowd Behaviour in a Virtual Flood Evacuation Scenario Booloot Arshaghi https://doi.org/10.5446/72397

Download
Short summary
This research used Virtual Reality to examine how crowd behaviour and size, floodwater level, and destination clarity affect evacuation decisions during floods. Results show that people often follow crowds in risky situation including flood, but this influence weakens when water-level is extreme. Findings also highlight how social cues shape flood responses and the need to include human behaviour in flood risk models, emergency planning, and public safety interventions.
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint