iCrowds Dynamic Systems

System Overview

iCrowds provides three specialized crowd simulation systems for different scenarios:

1. City System

Purpose: Autonomous urban population simulation
Best For: - Open-world city environments - Agents with independent needs and behaviors - Complex urban planning studies

Key Features: - Needs-based AI (hunger, sleep, fun, bladder) - Automatic pathfinding to activities - High agent customization - Debug tools for behavior monitoring

2. Fluid System

Purpose: Artist-controlled crowd movement
Best For: - Directed crowd flow - Event and venue simulations - Emergency evacuation planning

Key Features: - Flow curves for guided movement - Attracter/repeler objects - Multiple distribution methods - Physics-based collision avoidance

3. Walkers System

Purpose: Organized path-based pedestrian traffic
Best For: - Sidewalks and crosswalks - Museum/retail visitor flow - Structured movement patterns

Key Features: - Lane-based curve following - Bidirectional traffic flow - Simple setup and management - Consistent animation patterns

Quick System Selection Guide

Choose City System if: - You want autonomous, life-like behavior - Agents should make independent decisions - Simulating daily urban activities

Choose Fluid System if: - You need precise crowd direction control - Using attractors/repellers to shape movement - Creating natural crowd flow patterns

Choose Walkers System if: - You need organized path following - Simulating sidewalk or lane-based traffic - Quick setup with predictable results

Common Workflow

  1. Setup Environment - Prepare terrain and collision objects
  2. Select System - Choose based on your simulation needs
  3. Configure Distribution - Place agents using density controls
  4. Set Behaviors - Configure speeds, activities, or paths
  5. Add Controls - Place flow curves, attracters, or activities
  6. Run Simulation - Monitor with debug tools as needed

Technical Notes

  • All systems support custom agent collections
  • Speed thresholds control animation transitions
  • Distribution uses weight painting for density control
  • Systems can be combined in different scene areas

Getting Started

  1. Start with the Walkers System for simple path-based crowds
  2. Use Fluid System for controlled crowd movement
  3. Implement City System for complex autonomous populations

Remember: You can mix systems in different parts of your scene for optimal results.