Crowd Modelling Expert (m/f/d)

SL Rasch

IHRE AUFGABEN Role Purpose: The role exists to deliver high-quality crowd movement analysis and static assessments that support safe, efficient, and robust crowd management planning. The Crowd Modelling Expert applies analytical judgement, domain knowledge, and structured reasoning to identify risks, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities in pedestrian environments. The role focuses on interpreting crowd behavior and space performance, translating analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations for planners, engineers, and decision-makers.   Technical Scope & Nature of Work Work on this project typically involves: * Analyzing crowd movement and pedestrian behavior in complex, high-density environments. * Performing static and quasi-static assessments of pedestrian spaces, where layout, operational rules, and demand patterns are critical. * Operating at the interface between quantitative analysis and operational judgement. * Supporting decision-making where safety, capacity, and operational robustness are primary concerns. The work is decision-oriented rather than academic, with a strong emphasis on clarity, practicality, and defensibility. Key Responsibilities Problem Definition & Method Selection * Analyze pedestrian movement patterns and crowd behavior in defined areas and scenarios. * Assess capacities, densities, flow rates, queuing behavior, and spatial conflicts. * Identify critical situations such as pinch points, congestion, unsafe densities, or operational weaknesses. Scenario Evaluation & Interpretation * Support the definition and evaluation of operational scenarios (e.g. peak demand, diversions, special events, constrained conditions). * Interpret analytical results in terms of risk, safety, and operational performance. * Distinguish between theoretical capacity and realistic, safe operation. Recommendations & Practical Solutions * Develop clear, practical improvement measures (layout changes, operational rules, routing strategies, demand management). * Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of proposed measures. * Support prioritization of interventions based on risk and impact. Documentation & Communication * Produce structured reports, figures, and presentations suitable for client and stakeholder use. * Clearly document assumptions, limitations, and confidence levels. * Communicate findings in a way that is understandable to non-specialist audiences without oversimplifying. Collaboration * Work closely with simulation engineers, planners, engineers, and monitoring / technology specialists. * Align assumptions and findings across disciplines to ensure consistency of recommendations. Level of Technical Ownership Depending on experience, the role provides: * Ownership of assigned crowd analysis work packages. * Responsibility for the technical soundness and clarity of conclusions and recommendations. * Opportunity to challenge assumptions and refine scenarios in coordination with the wider team. * Contribution to improving internal analysis approaches and standards. Engineering Mindset & Working Style  This role suits individuals who: * Understand crowd behavior as a system, not just a set of numbers. * Are comfortable making judgement-based assessments under imperfect information. * Can balance safety, operational feasibility, and real-world constraints. * Prefer structured reasoning and clear communication over purely theoretical analysis. * Are motivated by improving safety and performance in complex public environments. IHR PROFIL Role-Specific Technical Focus This role specialises in crowd movement analysis and static crowd modelling, with emphasis on: * Pedestrian space performance * Crowd safety and risk identification * Operational feasibility of crowd management concepts The role complements dynamic simulation by providing interpretation, context, and operational realism.   Required Skills & Experience * Strong background in pedestrian / crowd modelling, crowd safety assessment, or transport / movement analysis. * Experience translating analytical findings into actionable recommendations. * Strong technical writing and stakeholder communication skills. * Ability to reason about safety, capacity, and operational risk holistically. Preferred Experience * Experience with complex, high-density or high-stakes environments (transport hubs, events, religious sites, urban centers). * Familiarity with pedestrian or crowd modelling platforms (e.g. Legion, MassMotion, Viswalk, PEDFLOW / PEDNET, or similar). * Arabic language skills or regional background supporting contextual understanding and coordination. Education Background * BSc, MSc, or PhD in Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering, Systems Engineering, Urban Planning, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. * Preferred: postgraduate focus on crowd dynamics, pedestrian modelling, transport planning, or safety engineering. Optional Training / Certifications * Crowd safety or event safety training (crowd risk assessment, crowd management). * Training on pedestrian / crowd modelling platforms. * Human factors, evacuation modelling, or safety engineering coursework. Engagement Model * Freelance or project-based engagement. * Remote-first technical work with structured coordination. * On-site presence only if technically required.

SL Rasch

IHRE AUFGABEN Simulation Leadership and Strategy * Lead, mentor, and develop the Simulation Engineers and Crowd Modelling Experts, with a clear focus on building a capable, autonomous, and resilient team rather than reliance on individual contributors. * Develop a deep understanding of each team member’s strengths, development areas, and capacity, and use this insight to allocate work effectively and support professional growth. * Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations within the simulation team, ensuring work is structured, ownership is clear, and delivery is predictable and robust. * Provide regular technical guidance, structured reviews, and constructive feedback, ensuring that simulation outputs meet defined standards while progressively raising the technical maturity of the team. * Actively develop future senior simulation leads by coaching team members in technical judgment, communication of results, and interdisciplinary collaboration. * Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and performance development, ensuring that new hires strengthen both the technical capability and cultural cohesion of the simulation discipline. * Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement, where team members understand not only how to run simulations, but why decisions are made and how their work contributes to project and organizational outcomes. * Define, maintain, and continuously improve simulation standards, methodologies, and best practices. * Ensure consistency, quality, and technical excellence in all simulation models and outputs. * Support the Head of Engineering in developing the long-term strategy for the simulation discipline. Simulation Model Development * Lead the development and implementation of advanced simulation models for crowd dynamics, pedestrian behavior, and movement patterns. * Oversee the use of simulation software (e.g. PEDFlow) to ensure realistic, reliable, and validated scenarios. * Review and approve simulation assumptions, inputs, and methodologies used by the simulation team. * Provide hands-on technical support for complex or high-risk simulation tasks.  Data Collection and Analysis * Supervise data collection, preprocessing, and analysis activities related to crowd movement and spatial behavior. * Ensure appropriate validation of simulation models against real-world data. * Interpret simulation results at a strategic level and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations for projects and clients.  Team Leadership and Development * Lead, mentor, and support Simulation Engineers and Crowd Modelling Experts, fostering technical growth and professional development. * Allocate resources and assign simulation tasks based on project needs, complexity, and team capacity. * Conduct technical reviews and provide structured feedback on simulation work. * Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and performance development of simulation team members.  Collaboration and Coordination * Act as the main point of contact for simulation-related topics towards project management, planning teams, and other engineering disciplines. * Collaborate closely with architects, engineers, and stakeholders to ensure simulations align with project goals and design specifications. * Participate in internal and external meetings, workshops, and presentations as the simulation subject-matter expert.  Scenario Testing and Optimization * Oversee the simulation of multiple crowd management scenarios, including normal operations, emergency situations, and evacuations. * Review analyses identifying bottlenecks, safety risks, and inefficiencies, and guide the development of optimized solutions. * Ensure sensitivity analyses are conducted where required to assess the impact of design changes or external factors. Software Integration and Innovation * Guide the customization and extension of simulation tools, including scripting and coding where required. * Ensure effective integration of simulation models with BIM, GIS, and other digital platforms. * Monitor advancements in simulation technologies and crowd dynamics research and assess their applicability to ongoing and future projects.  Work Breakdown and Task Coordination * Coordinate with project managers and planning teams to define simulation scopes and work packages. * Break down complex simulation requirements into structured tasks and oversee their execution. * Monitor progress, risks, and dependencies related to simulation activities across projects.  Reporting and Documentation * Review and approve simulation reports, visualizations, and presentations for internal and external use. * Ensure thorough documentation of simulation processes, assumptions, and methodologies. * Guarantee compliance of simulation deliverables with relevant standards, regulations, and project requirements.  Innovation and Continuous Improvement * Drive continuous improvement of simulation workflows, tools, and internal processes. * Contribute to the development of internal guidelines, templates, and standard operating procedures. * Promote a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence within the simulation team. IHR PROFIL Technical / Professional Requirements * Proven expertise in crowd simulation, pedestrian behavior, and movement modeling. * Experience with simulation software (e.g., PEDFlow) and data analysis/validation. * Ability to simulate complex scenarios (normal operations, emergencies, evacuations) and provide actionable insights. * Knowledge of scripting/coding and integration with BIM, GIS, or other digital platforms. * Experience defining and maintaining simulation standards and quality assurance. Leadership & Team Management * Experience leading and mentoring a team of Simulation Engineers. * Ability to allocate tasks effectively, build a high-performing team, and foster professional development. * Involvement in recruitment, onboarding, and performance management. Project & Collaboration Skills * Strong coordination with project teams, planners, and stakeholders. * Ability to translate complex simulations into strategic insights for projects. * Responsible for reporting, documentation, and adherence to standards. Personal / Soft Skills * Analytical and strategic thinking, problem-solving skills. * Clear communication and ability to present complex results.

SL Rasch

IHRE AUFGABEN Simulation Model Development: * Develop and implement simulation models for crowd dynamics, pedestrian behaviour, and movement patterns in various environments. * Utilize advanced simulation software (PEDFlow) to create realistic and reliable scenarios.  * Integrate data inputs, including population density, spatial configurations, and behavioural assumptions, into simulation models. Data Collection and Analysis: * Gather, preprocess, and analyse data relevant to crowd movement and spatial behaviour. * Apply statistical and computational methods to interpret simulation results and validate models against real-world data. * Provide insights and actionable recommendations based on simulation outcomes to support project objectives. Collaboration and Coordination: * Work closely with the project management and planning teams to define work packages and simulation requirements. * Collaborate with engineers, architects, and stakeholders to ensure simulations align with project goals and design specifications. * Present findings and reports to cross-functional teams and contribute to decision-making processes. Scenario Testing and Optimization: * Analyse results to identify bottlenecks, safety risks, and inefficiencies, and propose optimized solutions.  * Conduct sensitivity analyses to understand the impact of design changes or external factors on crowd behaviour. * Simulate multiple crowd management scenarios, including normal operations, emergencies, and evacuation situations.  Software Integration and Customization: * Customize and extend simulation tools to meet project-specific needs, including scripting and coding where necessary. * Ensure seamless integration of simulation models with other digital tools, including BIM and GIS platforms.  * Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the latest simulation technologies and methodologies.  Work Breakdown and Task Coordination: * Collaborate with project managers and planning teams to define and structure work packages related to simulation activities. * Breakdown simulation requirements into manageable tasks, assign responsibilities, and establish timelines.  * Ensure seamless coordination with other engineering teams, architects, and stakeholders to align tasks with overarching project goals. Reporting and Documentation: * Prepare detailed simulation reports, visualizations, and presentations to communicate findings effectively to technical and non-technical audiences. * Document simulation processes, assumptions, and methodologies for internal records and client deliverables.  * Ensure that simulation outputs comply with relevant industry standards and project requirements Innovation and Continuous Improvement: * Stay informed on advancements in simulation technologies, crowd dynamics research, and relevant regulations. * Propose and implement innovative approaches to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and value of simulations.  * Contribute to the development of best practices and standard operating procedures for simulation activities. IHR PROFIL Professional Background * Degree in Engineering, Simulation, Computer Science, Transport / Spatial Planning, Architecture, or a related field * Solid understanding of crowd dynamics, pedestrian behaviour, or simulation-based analysis * Hands-on experience with simulation software, ideally PEDFlow or comparable tools * Strong skills in data collection, preprocessing, and analysis * Experience with scripting or programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB, or similar) is an advantage * Familiarity with BIM and GIS platforms is a plus Analytical & Technical Skills * Strong analytical thinking with a structured and methodical approach * Ability to model, analyse, and interpret complex systems and movement patterns * Experience in validating simulation models against real-world data * Interest in scenario development, optimisation, and sensitivity analyses Way of Working & Personality * Independent, reliable, and solution-oriented working style * Team player who enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration * Confident communicator, able to explain technical results to both technical and non-technical audiences * Curious mindset with a strong interest in innovation and continuous improvement * High quality awareness with a focus on safety, efficiency, and practical applicability Additional Requirements * Very good English skills (written and spoken); German is a plus * Motivation to continuously develop skills and actively contribute new ideas