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• Explain how crowd management and risk management differ.
• Name some crowd management problems that you have observed either on television or in person and explain how they were dealt with.
• How can cell phone technology (smart phones) help with crowd management, if at all?
• In the past crowd managers have had to deal with crushes, mosh pits, alcohol, terrorism and other issues.
• What additional issues might a crowd management team have to deal with in the next 10 years?
Solution Applied (or needed): Security personnel eventually brought in movable metal barricades to create snaking, parallel lines that directed people to specific gate entrances. They used verbal commands (often amplified) to direct the flow. A more proactive solution would have involved pre-setting these funneling barriers far in advance and using signage/volunteers to direct flow from the parking areas toward the correct queues well before peak arrival time.
Cell phone technology (smartphones) can significantly enhance proactive crowd management by improving communication, data collection, and directional control:
Real-Time Density Monitoring: Anonymized Wi-Fi/Bluetooth signals or specialized apps can measure the density and flow of crowds in specific zones of a venue. This data alerts control centers to potential crush points before a dangerous situation develops, allowing staff to reroute flows or open new exits.
Dispersal and Egress Management: Venue apps can use push notifications to stagger departure times for different sections (e.g., "Section 101, please wait 15 minutes to allow parking lot B to clear"). They can also provide dynamic digital maps showing the least congested exit routes and real-time transit information.
Emergency Communication: In the event of terrorism, fire, or an active threat, emergency notifications can be pushed instantly to the entire crowd, instructing them on immediate action (e.g., "Shelter in place" or "Use Exit E"). This avoids the lag and confusion of verbal announcements.
Reporting and Feedback: Dedicated apps allow attendees to immediately report problems (fights, spills, harassment, or overcrowding) to security staff using geolocation, allowing for faster response times.
In addition to traditional threats like crushes, alcohol, and terrorism, future crowd management teams must prepare for issues driven by technology, culture, and environmental factors:
Drone/UAS Threats (Unmanned Aircraft Systems): Drones pose risks of delivering small explosives, dropping dangerous materials, or simply disrupting large events. Management teams will require advanced counter-drone technology (jamming or net-capture systems) and coordination with local aviation authorities to secure airspace.
Crowd Management is a subset of Risk Management. Crowd management focuses only on the risks associated with people density and behavior (e.g., ingress, egress, panic, density). Risk management is broader, encompassing all potential hazards, including natural disasters, financial fraud, cybersecurity breaches, and legal liability, in addition to crowd-related issues.
A common crowd management problem often seen at large concerts or sporting events is the improper merging of queues and congestion at entry points (ingress).
Problem Observed (e.g., at a large music festival): Lines were not clearly delineated by signage or barriers, resulting in a disorganized mass of people trying to enter through a limited number of gates. As the start time approached, this pressure led to pushing, frustration, and minor safety hazards, primarily due to high density and lack of defined flow.