Enhancing Customer Experience: Wayfinding and Simulation Solutions by Mijksenaar and InControl

Enhancing Customer Experience: Wayfinding and Simulation Solutions by Mijksenaar and InControl

Over the past 14 years, InControl and Mijksenaar have combined their expertise to deliver cutting-edge solutions in wayfinding and simulation software for venues of multiple purposes, sizes, and scopes. Examples are metropole developments, (sport)venues, railway/bus/metro stations, airports, etc.

Mijksenaar specializes in connecting people with spaces and places by providing the user with solutions to orient, navigate, and experience to the fullest extent. This wayfinding goes beyond signage: it is multidisciplinary; intertwining the fields of architecture, spatial design, graphic design, and psychology to increase user value and customer experience.

InControl, on the other hand, develops advanced simulation software that utilizes data to accurately simulate venue usage. This powerful tool enables stakeholders, clients, and users to gain valuable insights into how a space can be (re)organized to maximize its value. By mapping flows, identifying bottlenecks, and considering other relevant information, such as purchasing patterns, InControl’s simulation software illuminates the specific needs of a space and contributes to the increase of safety, (staff and cost) efficiency, and customer experience.

The collaboration between Mijksenaar and InControl is mutually beneficial. Mijksenaar’s findings provide input for the optimization of scenarios within InControl’s simulation models. Conversely, the results generated by InControl’s simulation software provide valuable input for Mijksenaar’s wayfinding concepts.

The results are a combination of the (non-)preferred scenario, underpinned by facts and figures, the impact on waiting and process time, the visitor experiences, the optimal allocation of desks, F&B, merchandizing and other elements. This proven and recognized Business Partnership ensures that the deliverables produced are fully tailored to meet the specific requirements of every customer and project.

Stay connected to see our collaboration bring innovative solutions to life. Together, we provide remarkable experiences that exceed customers’ expectations.

 

Website Mijksenaar: https://www.mijksenaar.com/ 

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3 released!

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3 released!

We are excited to announce the release of Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3, the latest version of our crowd management simulation software application. Pedestrian Dynamics® is designed to create and execute large crowd simulation models used in (complex) infrastructures, enabling evaluation of the performance and safety of your operations in every phase of the life cycle – from design to operations.

The new features of Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3 are focused on enhancing user-friendliness, data analysis, realism, and visualization.

The new features of Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3 include:

  • Easy import and export data from Excel
  • New elements: Fence, Stanchion, Roadblock, and Staffing
  • Various user-friendliness improvements.

Easy Import and export data from Excel

Creating crowd scenarios often requires data that’s already available in Excel worksheets, and many users are familiar with analyzing data in Excel. With Pedestrian Dynamics®, all types of data can be stored in User Tables, including model inputs and various types of useful analysis outputs. The software now includes functionality that makes it easy to connect User Tables to Excel sheets for importing and exporting data. Simply set up the connection, and with a single click, you can import or export all the data you need.

Pedestrian Dynamics® now includes general import and export functions that enable more advanced import and export tasks. This Excel connection can speed up model building and especially scenario analyses. Testing different scenarios and comparisons between specific KPIs can be set up in an Excel that is fed with outputs from Pedestrian Dynamics®. This feature enhances the user experience and adds value to the model when simulating simple to complex infrastructures.

New elements: Fence, Stanchion, Roadblock, and Staffing

Crowd models play a critical role in analyzing and predicting the impact of crowd dynamics on events. They are used to inform and discuss crowd management strategies with stakeholders, and to train staff before and evaluate their performance after events.

To enhance the realism and visualization of Pedestrian Dynamics®, we have added new elements: Fence, Stanchion, Roadblock, and Staff. These elements are frequently used in large events and can significantly impact the flow of crowds. By incorporating them into the software, we improve the communication value of the software, making it easier to analyze, discuss, and train staff on the placement of these elements in and around the venue.

Moreover, the new tab “Events” has been added to the Model Layout window, which enables users to select and draw the new elements in their environment. The 3D visualization of these elements takes the powerful visualization and communication of your model to the next level, making it more accessible and understandable for all stakeholders.

User-friendliness improvements

Various other small improvements have been made:

  • The elevator has a new property offset time and the default location distribution has been adjusted.
  • Easily select a selection of height layers to draw an output map.
  • Disable the DrawInterior of an obstacle when a 3D model is attached to it.

Download our release highlights document to read more details about the new improvements in Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.3. 

Curious about what Pedestrian Dynamics® can do for you, your company, and your customers? Please contact us, or try our software free of charge.

InControl Enterprise Dynamics appoints new CEO for EMEA

InControl Enterprise Dynamics appoints new CEO for EMEA.

Woerden, January 31st 

Louis Schijve, the founder and owner of InControl Enterprise Dynamics, is stepping down as CEO of the company after a period of 34 years. The board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Geert-Jan van Nunen as the new CEO for the EMEA region. Geert-Jan is a seasoned manager with a proven track record of implementation and growth of software and platform technologies in the telecom and automotive industries.

Before joining InControl, Geert-Jan held various management positions. Understanding technology to accelerate business growth has been central to his career. Experienced with IoT, AI, platform technology, and integrated software systems. Previously he grew businesses from scratch to multimillion revenues. In his most recent role, he was responsible for the growth of a German AI technology scale-up.

geert-jan van nunen

Geert-Jan van Nunen. CEO InControl Enterprise Dynamics EMEA region.

His mission is growing InControl as a partner of choice for customers that use digital simulation and digital twins as tools to better plan and operate their core processes; and to establish InControl as the leading emulation and simulation software provider for large-scale and complex operations.

“We are happy to have Geert-Jan van Nunen as the new CEO for EMEA. He is a proven leader with the vision and experience to expand on the success that InControl has been building over the past 34 years and take the company into its next phase of growth and innovation.”

 –  Louis Schijve, Founder and Chairman of the board of directors  – 

About InControl Enterprise Dynamics

InControl Enterprise Dynamics is a global software company that provides simulation software and services for the safety and sustainability of critical infrastructures such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, logistics, airports, railroads, border control, public events, etc. By accurately simulating the flow of people and goods we enable our clients to better plan and optimize their core business processes making their business more efficient, robust, and safer. InControl’s Simulation Platform delivers customers essential insights to continuously improve and optimize complex infrastructures and physical business processes.

Find more information about our software here.

Contact us
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Simulation Excursion of The Netherlands Defense Academy, NLDA

Simulation Workshop and Presentation of The Netherlands Defense Academy, NLDA

For over 30 years, InControl has been working in close cooperation with many leading global Universities, Applied Sciences, and R&D Institutes. InControl’s cooperation is related to solving complex issues for so-called crowded places or supply chains such as last-mile delivery, human behavior, or specific domains like Defense.

A good example is the usage of our discrete-event software Enterprise Dynamics® during courses at the Netherlands Defense Academy, NLDA. As of this year, NLDA started using our Crowd Management simulation application as well. Both applications are very relevant for military planning, strategy, and operations.  The simulation software of InControl has become an integral part of the Master Military Technology, Processes & Systems (MTPS) curriculum. In this Master’s Program, much attention is paid to modeling and simulation. During the MTPS Master’s Program, students learn to identify, analyze and solve complex technical-operational challenges, related to military missions and systems.

Simulation software has proved to be an important tool to prepare and optimize military infrastructures, and operations, train staff, and predict incidents that threaten (inter)national safety and security. How can we effectively prepare soldiers and security personnel to succeed in their work during peace and mission-critical settings? Our Simulation Software can support the introduction of new operating procedures for tactical and operational army logistics.

Two weeks ago a group of students, professors, and lecturers of the NLDA visited our office in Woerden for a Simulation Workshop & Presentation. Our CCO, Frank van Poeteren, kicked off with a presentation about InControl and our experiences and contribution to the defense domain. Followed by a presentation by Douwe, Crowd Management Simulation Engineer at InControl. He explained the validation and technical features of our software application Pedestrian Dynamics®. Our CTO, Fred Jansma explained how our software contributes to the safety and security of complex infrastructures.

Student Presentation

Student presentation NLDA

As part of the program, four students from the Master Degree MTPS from the faculty of Military Science presented their assignments using Pedestrian Dynamics®. All students are Navy, Land, and Air Force officers and follow the Master’s program, besides their daily operations and assignments, part-time. InControl’s Pedestrian Dynamics® is used to understand the behavior of agents in specific settings and is tested if the results of their simulation models sync with the theory and vice versa. A very successful Workshop & Presentation with compliments to the well-prepared students and good cooperation with the lecturers of the NLDA.  

“We enjoyed our visit to InControl: from the enthousiastic welcome, and the interesting case studies to the in-depth discussions during the day. We learned a lot while having fun. In particular, talking with the Crowd Simulation Engineers was very fruitful: we discussed Pedestrian Dynamics and how we could use it for our applications. We shared many ideas and started collaborating on new projects. 

We look forward to visiting again with our next batch of master students.” 

– Ir. Sander van Oers, Assistant professor NLDA 

Consider starting a simulation course with our simulation software at your University, Applied Sciences, or R&D Institute.

Feel free to contact us to receive more information about our educational program and become part of our Educational Community to discuss and share your knowledge with other lecturers.

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Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2 released!

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2 released!

For all leading construction companies, architects, engineers, and consultants using crowd risk analysis. We are happy to announce the release of our crowd simulation software Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2!

With Pedestrian Dynamics® you can increase customer experiences, decrease costs, and contribute to your innovation programs to contribute to more safe, secure, and sustainable infrastructures and events.

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2 gives the crowd modelers more tools to help them in the model building process and to present the results to the end user.

The new features of Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2 are:

  • New TextBox Element, to enhance your model by showing text or output in your 2D or 3D visualization 
  • New functionality in the Error Monitor, to easily find the location where the error in your model is reported  
  • Miniature Map, a small layout shown at the bottom. Click on this layout to easily navigate your model. 

New TextBox element

The new text box element can show predefined messages or dynamically updatable
text. This tool brings extra functionality to help you analyze your environment during
the simulation run and create videos to show your projects’ results.
This element can be found on the draw toolbar of the 2D Builder. Draw the text box
in your layout, adjust its size, font, and many other settings in the settings window,
including the visualization in both 2D and/or 3D. Use the available predefined
logics to define the text to be shown: a fixed text such as the name of an activity
or its capacity, or even text that is updated dynamically during the run, such as the
number of people in a queue line.

Show the location in your 2D/3D model layout directly from the location reported in the Error monitor

New functionality has been added to the error monitor and tracer window. In the context menu you can find a new function Go to location. Use this for example to easily find the location of an error that is reported in the error monitor in your 2D/3D model layout.

Debugging your model is now facilitated by this tool. Select the line in the error
monitor which is reporting the location. Right-click on the error and the context
menu opens, which shows the “Go to location” option. By selecting this option, a red
circle pops up on the environment which indicates the location.

Miniature Map for easy navigation

A miniature layout of your entire model for easy navigation. When working with
large models, the zoom in/out process to find a specific location can sometimes
be cumbersome. The miniature map tool does not only give you extra information
about which part of the model is shown in the view, but also makes it easier to move
between different areas.

A new button can be found on the View tab of the Model Layout. Click this
button and a settings window will appear in which you can enable the miniature
map. This map is shown in the bottom left corner of the 2D Builder windows. The
green area shows the current area shown in the Layout. Click the image to move the
view to the indicated location. The map can be updated via the settings window or
on reset.

Download our release highlights document to read more details about the new improvements in Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.2. 

Curious what Pedestrian Dynamics® can do for you, your company, and your customers? Please contact us, or try our software free of charge.

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.1 released!

Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.1 released!

For all leading construction companies, architects, engineers, and consultants using crowd risk analysis. We are happy to announce the release of our crowd simulation software Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.1!

With Pedestrian Dynamics® you can increase customer experiences, decrease costs, and contribute to your innovation programs to contribute to more safe, secure, and sustainable infrastructures and events.

With the release of Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.1, the following improvements of the software are performed:

  • Increased user-friendliness
  • BIM improvements
  • New physical distancing feature for stands
  • New tutorials for recording videos and density output.

Increased user-friendliness and BIM improvements

To increase the user-friendliness several improvements are made which will help in model building, collecting data for an experiment but also give you an overview and control over the visualization. Moreover, the BIM import is improved to build models faster and easier. Also, adjustments have been made for Windows 11.

New physical distancing feature for stands

Around the world, we are struggling still with the effect of the COVID pandemic. Pedestrian Dynamics® simulation software today is used to implement physical distance and other pandemic rules and regulations. Already in Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.0, we introduced the physical distancing algorithm and included output to examine the proximity of agents. With this new release, we have added the feature to easily model seating areas when applying physical distancing. Due to the physical distancing rules, often not all seats in an area are allowed to use. Several properties have been added to a stand section to easily indicate which seats can be used and which should be unavailable.

New tutorials for recording videos and density output

Several improvements to our documentation are made. We have restructured our ‘Help’ file making it easier to find tutorials and ‘How to guides’ specific topics. These tutorials are now also easily accessible as PDFs via a drop-down menu on the ‘Help’ tab. We also added new documentation.

Download our release highlights document to read more details about the new improvements in Pedestrian Dynamics® 4.1. 

Curious what Pedestrian Dynamics® can do for you, your company, and your customers? Please contact us, or try our software free of charge.

How Simulation contributes to Liveable, Safe, and Sustainable cities

How simulation contributes to Livable, Safe, and Sustainable cities

Today about 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Expected is, that by 2050 this number will increase to about 68%. Not only the numbers are increasing, but also the needs are getting more diverse. Urban environments are exciting places to live, work and unwind. But how do we combine all of these aspects in a city? These Metropolitan Areas are not only growing fast but also changing continuously. We have to act faster and more adequate to trends and specific circumstances; like ‘greener’ ways of mobility or – relevant as it is still today – meet physical distancing ruling. All the aforementioned affairs come together in the overall question: how do we facilitate the City of the Future? 

Together with its business partners, Accenture Singapore has created its vision for the Future of Cities. These Metropolitan Areas should not only be the economic powerhouses of our world but also livable, safe, and sustainable locations that are by design inclusive to each stakeholder. Accenture Singapore brings together the relevant expertise and the best of class technology in their recently launched Future of Cities Innovation Hub; focusing on Sustainability, Mobility, and Safety & Security. We, InControl, are both happy and proud to announce that our simulation software is contributing to this Singapore Innovation Hub. In this manner, we are not only committed to the jointly created vision of the Future of Cities but strengthen our company mission statement: ‘’To deliver simulation software for a safe and sustainable planet.’’

But… how exactly is simulation contributing to future cities? To design cities’ infrastructures optimally, a thorough understanding of logistical flows is essential. Not only the logistical flow of pedestrians but also related to goods, rolling stock, energy, and even waste. The simulation of these processes and specific dynamics and scenarios provide tremendous information which in turn gives answers to complex, logistical issues. Think of capacity management, urban planning, and safety & security. Not only can simulation be part of the design phase of urban infrastructures, but it also plays a major role in real-time control and planning of operations. Possible congested areas or other (potential) issues related to public safety and security can be foreseen in an early stage, enabling authorities to act adequately and fast.

For simulating these scenarios, Metropolitan areas and City Authorities are visualizing the infrastructure in a so-called ‘digital twin’. However, to make this digital representation as realistic as possible enormous amounts of data are needed. A powerful software platform is key to process all this data of pedestrians, bikes and vehicular (public) traffic flows. InControl’s simulation software platform Enterprise Dynamics® (including Pedestrian Dynamics®) enables authorities to gather, enrich and process data from several sources like mobile devices, road and parking systems, and even weather stations! A digital twin facilitates the optimization of all flows in a city or any other infrastructure, providing information, insights and allowing quantifiable comparison of scenarios. By having this better understanding of pedestrian and other (public) transportation flows in congested areas during both regular and irregular days. The impact of bottlenecks, queues, and unsafe settings during e.g. city (re)development, road construction activities, or sports and other events, can be predicted and limited in an early stage and – even better – be avoided!           

Besides providing an overview of the distinct scenarios for a certain area, the simulation model also provides so-called ‘heat maps’. These maps provide information about the level of services provided in a certain area where not only the safety of pedestrians can be analyzed but also their level of comfort. Via both the simulation scenarios and heat maps, concretely and easily can be determined whether KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are met.

With Simulation Software, InControl is not only contributing to the realization of City and Metropolitan Authorities’ goals but also providing a pleasant, safe, and secure setting for citizens, workers, and visitors. All around the world, for more than 30 years! Would you like to be fully in control of your urban infrastructure? Please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to tell you more about our experiences and expertise. 

For more information, please contact:

Read more about Accenture’s Innovation Hub in this article.

Simulation adds value to Education

Simulation adds value to Education

Inspiring online seminar for our Educational User Community

On April 29th a group of enthusiastic teachers from several Universities working and teaching with Enterprise Dynamics® attended our online seminar Simulation & Education. InControl received loads of positive reactions launching the simulation software Enterprise Dynamics version 10.4. Particular new features and the user-friendliness were mentioned.  

In the discussion about online teaching, the teachers expressed great appreciation of the free-of-charge Enterprise Dynamics Student Starter extended edition. InControl made this version available since universities and Applied Sciences Institutes closed their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

A part of the new software release and the extended Student Starter edition, the following two subjects were presented: 

The first presenter was Mr. Koos van Overdijk from Avans University of Applied Sciences. He explained how they are using the Enterprise Dynamics program for many years. More than 150 students per year studying Industrial Engineering and Management uses InControl’s software program during Discrete Simulation courses. Where students have to design a soft drink factory in Enterprise Dynamics with all its features as part of a group project. Mr. Koos van Overdijk, has provided this inspiring course for many years and presented the ins and outs of this case and the way he shared his knowledge during the seminar.  

Thereafter, Mr. Han Mackor of Royal Schiphol Group and Mr. Harry Bunnik of InControl explained how a Digital Twin is created. What are the starting points and what steps do you need to take before you are even ready to run Digital Twin? To give insight into this process we elaborated on our approach to the baggage handling system of Airport Amsterdam Schiphol. How does Schiphol translate a suggestion to (re)design or improve a system or process into a realistic implementation using the advantages of simulation software? 

Are you interested in teaching with Enterprise Dynamics classroom?  

Become part of our active Educational User Community and discuss or share your knowledge and experiences with other lecturers. 

Just send an email or check our website.  

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InControl provides Bank of America Stadium simulation for walk-in vaccination project

The Bank of America stadium, Charlotte, NC, requested InControl to simulate the stadium to accommodate a relevant and actual purpose: walk-in vaccination center. The goal of the simulation is to ensure a more efficient COVID-19 vaccination process for right numbers of safe throughput, social distancing for queue lines that maximize safety and ensure more access.

By using simulation modeling you can reduce the frustration and confusion of those receiving vaccinations through predictive analytics. With these simulations the walk-through process is optimized taking process times, queues, and physical space for movement into account. The simulations include physical distancing to ensure a safe environment in which as many people as possible are vaccinated. We ran various scenarios to reduce the check in time and increased the number of check-in desks.

Figure 1: Overview meeting the physical distancing restrictions for fluid vaccination.

InControl has done previous simulations for the Bank of America stadium to investigate their options for a controlled opening of the stadium while minimizing health risks by taking physical distancing, pedestrian flows and the capacity into account.

With our own developed crowd simulation software Pedestrian Dynamics ® we have modeled the Bank of America stadium’s infrastructure and surrounding streets. We also add crowd behavior for efficiency of movement, evacuation and sheltering-in-place to the model. The simulation tool we have delivered is developed in such a way that trained event staff can update the model for specific events. This tool allows you to intelligently know the crowd management answers before you implement your live plan. InControl has conducted COVID-19 vaccination simulation models for clients around the world.

Figure 2: Check-in desks, while maintaining social distancing

Pedestrian Dynamics® is a leading crowd simulation tool that has been used for more than a decade to model large crowds in all types of infrastructure. Pedestrian Dynamics® helped answer questions about capacity, staff planning and training, keeping in mind the safety and comfort related to crowded places.

Cities and municipalities are struggling with organizational and financial hurdles due to the Corona crisis. InControl would like to get involved and support communities by not charging reduced the usual daily rates for simulation engineers for this type of projects.

If you need support with the test streets and / or vaccination routes, check capacity with the Pedestrian Dynamics® simulation software and / or model according to COVID-19 measures and guidelines including physical distancing in any environment, please do not hesitate to contact us.