A general approach to validating evacuation models with an application to EXODUS

Too often, validation of computer models is considered as a "once and forge t" task. In this paper a systematic and graduated approach to evacuation mo del validation is suggested. This involves, 1, Component testing 2. Functional validation 3. Qualitative validation 4. Quantitative validation Viewed in this manner, validation is considered an on-going activity and an integral part of the life cycle of the software. While the first three com ponents of the validation protocol pose little or no significant problems, the task of quantitative validation poses a number of challenges, the most significant being a shortage of suitable experimental data. In addition, th e validation protocol used in the development of the EXODUS suite of evacua tion models is briefly examined. Finally, while this discussion focuses on the validation of evacuation modulus, the principles of the protocol can be equally applied to fire models.