Software Update: Pedestrian Dynamics 4.7

Enhance Your Simulation Experience with Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7! 

At InControl, we continuously invest in making Pedestrian Dynamics® more powerful, efficient, and easier to use. Guided by feedback from our users and the growing demand for advanced crowd simulation, Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7 introduces a wide range of enhancements designed to improve your modelling experience. 

Whether you are evaluating new infrastructure designs, supporting operational decision-making, or developing Digital Twin applications, Pedestrian Dynamics® helps you gain reliable insights into pedestrian behavior in complex environments. Version 4.7 further strengthens the platform with new functionality and usability improvements that allow you to build models faster, analyze results more effectively, and communicate your findings with greater confidence. 

We invite you to explore the latest innovations and discover how Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7 can help you create safer, smarter, and more efficient environments. 

Key Features in Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7

View release notes
View release notes

1. Improved building with BIM

Build your models faster and more accurately from BIM data.

Since BIM models are often created using imperial units while Pedestrian Dynamics® uses the metric system, IFC geometry defined in feet is now automatically imported and converted to meters.

We have also added automatic import of escalator elements from IFC files, making it easier to incorporate escalators into your Pedestrian Dynamics® model.

BIM import GUI highlighting the recent new features and improvements

Escalator in BIM viewer

Escalator after importing in Pedestrian Dynamics

2. Faster and more flexible Modeling

Save modelling time and have more insight and flexibility when modelling.

An Activity Location can now belong to multiple groups, giving you more flexibility and uniform way to address certain subsets of activity locations, making it easier to set up activity routes.

The stair and escalator tilt will automatically update when the departure or landing tilt changes, saving you time and eliminating the need for manual updates.

Easily monitor the values of labels of a selected group of agent or other elements using the Monitor Labels tool. The tool allows you to easily compare the values of labels of different agents or elements.

Escalator in BIM viewer

3. Enhanced Output Customization

Customize your simulation outputs with greater flexibility and clarity.

When creating density maps, the new “Fruin colors” option lets you switch from the default Pedestrian Dynamics® Level of Service colors to the widely used Fruin color scheme, where LoS F is represented in red.

For greater flexibility in reporting and analysis, output graphs and maps can now be displayed using feet and yards instead of meters. Density graphs can also be inverted—for example, displaying ft²/agent instead of agents/m²—making results easier to interpret for users working with different measurement systems.

Finally, Activity Route outputs now support user-defined percentiles. In addition to the existing minimum, mean, maximum, and standard deviation, users can select a percentile to display directly in the graphs.

Classic Pedestrian Dynamics density coloring

Fruin density coloring

4. Improved Visualization

Represent a wider range of pedestrian characteristics in your models.

The available character set has been expanded with new wheelchair users and pedestrians carrying a suitcase, providing more realistic visual representations of diverse pedestrian types in your simulation.

Next to the default Profile we also added a default profile for wheelchair characters that have different parameter setting for the speed and size to better reflect the behavior of these characters.

Suitcase characters

Wheelchair characters

The item dropdown under the Visualization tab of Agent Profile Gui can help the users choose the type of item they want to visualize.

Users can also create a custom selection from a range of new characters available in the Select Multiple Characters tab of the Agent Profile GUI.

5. License Manager improvements

Following the introduction of the new License Manager in Pedestrian Dynamics 4.6, version 4.7 delivers a wide range of refinements based on customer feedback. The licensing workflow has become more intuitive, with clearer messages, improved license borrowing and release functionality, easier offline activation, and enhanced support for automated workstation licensing (installation and licensing without user intervention). Several technical improvements have also been implemented, making license management more reliable and flexible for both individual users and larger deployments.

6. Added Profiler Tool for Developers

Identify performance bottlenecks and optimize your models.

A new Profiler tool is now available to help developers identify which parts of a model consume the most processing time. Use these insights to investigate performance bottlenecks and improve model execution speed.

Get Started with Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7

Enhance your crowd modeling and simulation projects with Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.7. Discover how it can support your crowd management, planning, and operational decision-making.

Learn more
Learn more
Start for Free!
Start for Free!

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InControl Joins SENTRY Industry Advisory Board

InControl Joins SENTRY Industry Advisory Board to Advance Safety and Security in Crowded Places

InControl has joined the Industry Advisory Board of SENTRY, the Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat Reality Center of Excellence led by Northeastern University.

The collaboration brings together SENTRY’s research and expertise in protecting soft targets and crowded places with InControl’s experience in simulation, digital twins, crowd dynamics, and operational decision support.

As an Industry Advisory Board member, InControl will contribute its expertise to help connect emerging research with practical applications for security, emergency management, and crowd safety.

What is SENTRY?

SENTRY is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence led by Northeastern University. Its mission focuses on advancing research, technologies, and decision-support capabilities that help protect soft targets and crowded places.

SENTRY brings together researchers, industry partners, government organizations, and security practitioners to address complex security challenges and help translate research into solutions that can be applied in real-world environments.

Its Industry Advisory Board plays an important role in this process by bringing practical expertise into the research community and helping identify opportunities where emerging technologies can support security professionals and other stakeholders.

SENTRY Research

InControl is supporting research led by SENTRY researcher Dr. Subhadeep Chakraborty focused on crowd dynamics, evacuation planning, and decision-support systems. The research combines InControl’s pedestrian simulation capabilities with optimized routing technology to work toward decision-support tools for soft-target protection.

InControl also contributed to SENTRY’s Strategic Initiatives Virtual Workshop in February 2026. During a session on crowd evacuation, Gary Gardner, Vice President & Safety & Security Applications Director at InControl, discussed how simulation can be used to visualize complex scenarios, evaluate emergency response strategies, and strengthen preparedness.

As Gardner explained in SENTRY’s Industry Advisory Board Member Spotlight, the organizations address different but closely connected parts of the resilience and emergency-management lifecycle. SENTRY focuses on understanding threats, preparedness, resilience, and the development of new technologies, while InControl provides an environment in which concepts and strategies can be tested, validated, optimized, and operationalized before real-world implementation.

Understanding Crowds Before Events Happen

For organizations responsible for stadiums, arenas, transportation hubs, events, public spaces, and other crowded environments, many critical questions concern situations that cannot simply be tested in the real world.

How quickly can a venue be evacuated under different circumstances? Where could dangerous crowd densities develop? What happens when an exit becomes unavailable? How does a security checkpoint affect pedestrian flow? And how should people and resources be routed when conditions suddenly change?

Simulation and digital twin technology provide a way to explore these questions in a virtual environment.

InControl develops simulation software and provides simulation services that allow organizations to model the movement of people through complex environments, analyze potential risks, and compare alternative strategies before implementing them in the real world.

Pedestrian Dynamics®: Simulating Crowd Behavior

At the center of InControl’s crowd simulation capabilities is Pedestrian Dynamics®, an agent-based simulation platform for modeling, analyzing, and visualizing pedestrian movement.

Instead of treating a crowd as a single flow, Pedestrian Dynamics® models individual pedestrians and their interactions within an environment. This makes it possible to reproduce and analyze phenomena such as congestion, bottlenecks, route choices, queues, and changing crowd densities.

Organizations can use the software to evaluate scenarios including:

  • Crowd ingress and egress
  • Emergency evacuation
  • Crowd management strategies
  • Security checkpoints and screening configurations
  • Infrastructure and exit capacity
  • Alternative routing strategies
  • Changes in layouts, barriers, and access points

These scenarios can be evaluated without interrupting actual operations or exposing people to risk.

In addition to providing the software, InControl supports organizations with simulation consultancy and expertise, from collecting and interpreting data to building simulation models and translating the results into actionable insights.

From Simulation to Operational Decision Support

InControl also develops TruVenue®, a digital twin solution created specifically for sports and entertainment venues.

Where Pedestrian Dynamics® provides extensive modeling and simulation capabilities, TruVenue® makes simulation-based insights accessible within an operational venue environment. It enables organizations to evaluate crowd behavior and explore different configurations and scenarios using a digital representation of their venue.

This creates opportunities to use simulation not only during the design of infrastructure, but also as part of planning, preparedness, training, and operational decision-making.

From Research to Real-World Application

Protecting crowded places requires more than understanding what has happened in the past. Security professionals, planners, venue operators, and emergency services increasingly need tools that allow them to explore what could happen next.

By combining research into threats, resilience, evacuation, and decision support with simulation and digital twin technology, new concepts can be evaluated in realistic virtual environments before they are deployed in the real world.

Through its role on SENTRY’s Industry Advisory Board, InControl looks forward to contributing its expertise in crowd simulation, digital twins, and operational decision support while collaborating with researchers, government organizations, industry partners, and security practitioners toward a shared objective: making crowded places safer and better prepared for the unexpected.

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Software Update: Enterprise Resource Simulator (ERS®) 0.7.1.

Software Update: Enterprise Resource Simulator (ERS®) 0.7.1.

We’re excited to announce the release of Enterprise Resource Simulator (ERS®) version 0.7.1, the latest version of our high-performance simulation platform for developers. 

ERS® enables software teams to build powerful, domain-specific simulation applications on top of a modern simulation engine, supporting discrete event, agent-based, and hybrid simulation models. 

This release introduces Dear ImGui support, Channels, stability improvements, and bug fixes designed to make developing simulation applications more efficient. 

What's new in ERS® 0.7.1?

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Build Powerful Tools with Dear ImGui 

One of the highlights of ERS® 0.7.1 is the addition of Dear ImGui (Immediate Mode Graphical User Interface) support. 

Dear ImGui is widely used for building fast, responsive tools for engineers, developers, and technical users. By integrating Dear ImGui into ERS®, developers can rapidly create user interfaces without the overhead typically associated with traditional GUI frameworks. 

This makes it particularly useful for developing: 

  • Interactive simulation dashboards 
  • Debugging and monitoring tools 
  • Model configuration panels 
  • Custom editors and visualizers 
  • Engineering applications with real-time feedback 

ERS® now provides developers with more flexibility to build intuitive interfaces that integrate closely with their simulation logic. This enables faster prototyping, shorter development cycles, and responsive applications capable of interacting with complex simulation models. 

Introducing Channels 

ERS® 0.7.1. also introduces Channels, providing a structured and efficient way for simulation components to exchange information. 

Channels make communication between components cleaner and more scalable, helping developers build modular, maintainable, and reusable simulation applications. 

Whether you’re modelling logistics systems, manufacturing processes, transportation networks, or digital twins, Channels simplify the exchange of information throughout your simulation models while helping to keep the application architecture clean and extensible. 

Stability and Performance Improvements 

In addition to these new features, ERS® 0.7.1 includes bug fixes, performance optimizations, and stability improvements across the platform, providing an even more reliable foundation for developing simulation applications. 

Get Started with ERS® 0.7.1

ERS® is built for developers who need the freedom to create custom simulation solutions rather than being limited by traditional simulation software. 

Whether you’re developing digital twin applications, decision-support tools, or entirely new simulation products, ERS® provides the performance, flexibility, and extensibility needed to build simulation technology around your specific use case. 

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Simulation Digital Twins: A Crowd Management and Revenue Enhancement Tool

Simulation Digital Twins: A Crowd Management and Revenue Enhancement Tool

Text by: Gary Gardner, VP North America Operations, InControl Enterprise Dynamics
Published in: Gameday Security Magazine 

Crowd Management entails areas of concern involving the end-to-end event fan journey

  1. It begins with how people arrive: car (think parking), bus, rail, rideshare, and their pathways to the venue.
  2. Next is entry, queuing, screening, and ticket scanning.
  3. Once guests are in the venue, they will circulate and enjoy concessions, advertising activations, and
    merchandise sales.
  4. Some incidents during the event may require evacuation or sheltering.
  5. Finally, ensuring a smooth departure to a transportation mode.

Simulation is a powerful tool for event crowd management because it can model, analyze, and predict/anticipate
crowd behaviors in a safe, controlled, and cost-effective manner.

The goal is to leverage the best technologies coupled with the best human team to provide the best experience.

Simulation digital twin modeling has evolved from one-off ingress, evacuation, and sheltering models of a venue using historical data for predictive analytics to simulating each event using real-time data integration to protect and enhance the event experience.

Critical Metrics into Fan Experience

Safety and Security

71% of fans report insufficient response to incidents they have witnessed.

Safety and Security

40%  of fans report witnessing unsafe or violent behavior at least once in the last year. 

Safety and Security

Weather related shelters and evacuations have increased by 62% over the last 10 years.

Fan Experience

Fans spend an average of 42 minutes waiting in lines when attending major events. 

Revenue Generation

10-15% of revenue comes from merchandise sales, but 60% of guests skip the lines because of their length.

Revenue Generation

Fans say they would spend $20 more on food or beverage if line times were cut in half.

Advantages of utilizing simulation in sport and entertainment safety and security planning:
  • Simulations allow event planners to test scenarios without putting attendees at risk for any type of incident. Each event is different and should be simulated.
  • Potential hazards, such as overcrowding/crushing, bottlenecks, or evacuation/sheltering challenges, can be identified and mitigated before the event occurs.
  • Using simulation software, planners can analyze various data points, such as expected crowd size, venue layout, densities, bottlenecks, and movement patterns for people and traffic.
  • Dynamic data integration from ticketing, scanning, GPS, cameras, sensors, and point of sale allows you to monitor behaviors as they happen, making real-time decisions and continuous improvement.
  • These insights enable informed decisions about resource allocation, staff deployment, activations, and infrastructure design, enabling quick adjustments to manage congestion or address safety concerns.
  • Simulations help determine the most efficient use of space within and outside a venue, including entrances, exits, seating arrangements, activations, pathways, tailgating, transportation, parking, and signage.
  • Modern events have more complex floor plans than ever before. Each unique layout puts different stresses on staffing resources. Simulation is a tool for both safety and staffing efficiency.
  • It can highlight areas prone to congestion and suggest adjustments to improve pedestrian and traffic flow.
  • Tested and validated crowd dynamics simulation models can predict how crowds will respond to different situations, such as emergencies or delays of various demographics.
  • This foresight allows for the development of robust emergency response plans, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring rapid evacuation/sheltering when necessary.
  • Establish early warning systems by detecting unusual patterns, such as sudden crowd surges. Digital twins can alert organizers to potential hazards before they escalate.
  • Testing different layouts, optimal staffing levels, and event schedules in a virtual digital twin environment is far more cost-effective than making real-world adjustments during or after an event.
  • Revenue generation can be enhanced using simulations to optimize activation/concession placement, reduce queuing time, and improve
    customer experience.
  • Simulations can model a wide range of “what-if” scenarios, such as extreme weather, unexpected surges in attendance, or security incidents, such as active shooter or bombings.
  • Virtual environments allow staff to practice handling different scenarios, improving preparedness and coordination.
  • Minimize waiting times by optimizing crowd movement and reducing bottlenecks. Simulations contribute to a smoother, more enjoyable experience for attendees through more effective circulation and queuing.
  • They can also aid in the placement of amenities like food stalls, restrooms, and information booths for maximum convenience, which enhances revenue.
  • Slow service or even the perception is a deterrent to sales of more food and beverage; it also prevents some from even approaching concessions. Fixing this means direct rewards for venue operators.
  • Personalized experiences with simulation can incorporate attendee preferences (e.g., preferred seating or faster access routes, reduced queuing) to design more user-friendly layouts.
  • Digital twin simulations provide evidence that safety standards and legal requirements/ accountability have been met, simplifying the approval process for permits, such as safe
    capacities for Fire Marshal approval.
  • Facilitates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act certification planning and approval process (see dhs.gov).
  • They offer detailed records and audit trails of crowd management efforts, which can be helpful for post-event evaluations or liability inquiries. This is particularly important for obtaining permits, ensuring legal accountability, and reducing liability.
  • After an event, simulation tools can analyze crowd and camera data to identify areas for improvement in future events for both people and traffic.
  • This continuous feedback loop enhances the long-term effectiveness of crowd management strategies.
  • Eco-friendly planning by testing virtual layouts allows organizers to reduce the need for physical trials, cutting down on resource consumption, waste, and staff.
  • Energy Efficiency simulations help optimize power usage by planning the location, timing, and operation of equipment like lighting and HVAC systems.
  • Event staff, security staff, and first responders can use simulations to practice their roles in different scenarios, thereby improving readiness, coordination, and response.

“

Using simulation software was an intricate part of our SAFETY Act Certification preparation and application by demonstrating our ability to develop effective safety/security plans.

Richard Fenton
CSSP. Vice President/CSO, Corporate Security and Safety, Ilitch Holdings Inc., and NCS4 National Advisory Board Member

About TruVenue

TruVenue is a powerful simulation and digital twin application, designed for stadiums, arenas, campuses, and large-scale events. It provides venue operators with a virtual environment to test plans, evaluate risks, and optimize outcomes, before, during, and after live events.

For more information, visit the TruVenue page or visit us at  the NCS4 Annual Conference in San Antonio.  

Curious about how TruVenue can benefit your organization? Please contact us!

Zakelijke Profielfoto's InControl
Zakelijke Profielfoto's InControl

Chris Monroe
Program Manager TruVenue

chris.monroe@incontrolsim.com
+1 (313) 204-1705

Gary Gardner
Vice President North America

gary.gardner@incontrolsim.com
+1 (704) 239-2234

Smarter Stadiums

Transform your venue operations with TruVenue! Explore three innovative ways it enhances planning, crowd management, and decision-making for unforgettable events.

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TruVenue: Revolutionizing Sports and Entertainment Safety, Recognized with the Golden Eagle Award

TruVenue: Revolutionizing Sports and Entertainment Safety, Recognized with the Golden Eagle Award

In July 2024, TruVenue, InControl’s cutting-edge digital twin application for sports and entertainment venues, has been honored with the Golden Eagle Award by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴**) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Golden Eagle Award: A Mark of Excellence

The Golden Eagle Award honors outstanding achievements in system integration, architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) that specifically enhance the safety and security of spectators and facility infrastructure. This award is highly recognized within the industry for technologies and solutions that not only address safety gaps but also maintain a balance between security and fan experience.

A panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) assessed entries based on their relevance to the sports industry, effectiveness in solving critical safety issues, and innovative use of technology. TruVenue was selected as the winner for its innovative approach to balancing fan safety and experience, using data-driven simulation to optimize event operations and prepare for emergencies.

TruVenue: Enhancing Safety and Fan Experience Through Simulation

TruVenue, is a digital twin application that allows sports and entertainment venues to simulate every aspect of the fan journey, from ticket purchase to leaving the event. By leveraging real-time data and interactive 2D and 3D mapping tools, TruVenue provides venue managers with a powerful tool to visualize, plan, and optimize every aspect of the event.

Key challenges for venues include managing pedestrian traffic, parking, transportation, and logistics, all while ensuring adherence to safety rules. TruVenue addresses these complexities by providing simulations that enable stakeholders to test different scenarios, to identify and mitigate potential safety risks and liabilities before they arise. Whether it’s ensuring smooth pedestrian flow or responding to an emergency, TruVenue enables pre-event analysis and planning to minimize disruptions and optimize venue operations.

Life-Saving Simulations: When Minutes Matter

One of the most impactful applications of TruVenue lies in its potential to save lives during emergencies. Through 2D and 3D mapping, the digital twin allows venues to simulate emergency scenarios, mapping out where AEDs, first-aid kits, ambulances, and fire water connections are located. Staff and emergency responders can practice simulations to ensure they are prepared to act swiftly when real-life emergencies occur. By identifying the quickest routes to aid stations and evacuation paths, TruVenue prepares staff to handle crises confidently and efficiently.

Emergency Preparedness for Mass Casualty and Severe Weather Events

TruVenue enables venues to rehearse evacuations, coordinate medical and law enforcement responses, and prepare for scenarios such as bombings, active shooter or car raming situations.

For venues particularly vulnerable to severe weather, TruVenue is an invaluable tool. The platform allows operators to simulate sheltering capacities and evacuation times, ensuring spectators can reach safety before dangerous conditions arise. Even venues with outdoor or temporary structures, which may not fully meet International Code Council sheltering standards, can benefit from these life-saving simulations.

Industry Recognition and the Future of Venue Safety

TruVenue’s digital twin application sets a new standard for safety preparedness in sports and entertainment venues. By leveraging simulation, venue operators can better prepare for emergencies, optimize operations, and ultimately enhance both security and the fan experience. This award-winning solution underscores the critical role of innovation and foresight in ensuring that every fan can enjoy events in a safe, secure environment.

At InControl, we are committed to developing cutting-edge solutions that help venues run safer and more efficient events. TruVenue embodies this mission by empowering operators with the tools to enhance safety, streamline operations, maximize revenue opportunities and improve the overall fan experience.

Take the next step in Venue Safety

Discover how TruVenue can transform safety and operations at your venue. Contact us today for a demo and see how our digital twin application can help you prepare for any scenario and ensure the highest level of safety for your fans and staff.

Book a Demo

** About NCS4:

Established in 2006, The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi is the world leader in addressing potential threats and risks to the safety and security of sporting events.

Their program is top among academic institutions studying techniques, strategies and solutions to mitigate the safety and security risks inherent in spectator sports venues. Through cutting-edge research, internationally recognized educational programs, training and innovative solutions, NCS4 continues to enhance the level of preparedness at sports events nationwide. Housing the National Institute for the Study of Sports Incidents and the National Sports Security Laboratory, NCS4 equips current and future sports managers with the specialized skills and knowledge they need to address real challenges in maintaining secure sports venues.

Their mission is to conduct innovative research, provide internationally recognized academic programs, enhance training capabilities and develop integrated security solutions.

For more information visit their website. 

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