Abstract
We build an agent-based model for evaluating the spatial and functional design of supermarket checkout zones and the effectiveness of safety regulations related to distancing that have been introduced after the COVID-19 outbreak. The model is implemented in the NetLogo simulation platform and calibrated to actual point of sale data from one of major European retail chains. It enables realistic modeling of the checkout operations as well as of the airborne diffusion of SARS-CoV-2 particles. We find that opening checkouts in a specific order can reduce epidemic risk, but only under low and moderate traffic conditions. Hence, redesigning supermarket layouts to increase distances between the queues can reduce risk only if the number of open checkouts is sufficient to serve customers during peak hours.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Antczak, T., Weron, R., Zabawa, J.: Data-driven simulation modeling of the checkout process in supermarkets: insights for decision support in retail operations. IEEE Access 8, 228841–228852 (2020)
Antczak, T., Weron, R.: Point of sale (POS) data from a supermarket: transactions and cashier operations. Data 4(2), 67 (2019)
Chakraborty, I., Maity, P.: Covid-19 outbreak: migration, effects on society, global environment and prevention. Sci. Total Environ. 728, 138882 (2020)
Chen, L.: Agent-based modeling in urban and architectural research: a brief literature review. Front. Archit. Res. 1(2), 166–177 (2012)
Lewis, D.: Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne - but health advice has not caught up. Nature 583(7817), 510–513 (2020)
Li, H., Leong, F., Xu, G., Kang, C., Lim, K., et al.: Airborne dispersion of droplets during coughing: a physical model of viral transmission. Sci. Rep. 11, 4617 (2021)
Nguyen, B., Wang, T.H., Peng, C.: Integration of agent-based modelling of social-spatial processes in architectural parametric design. Archit. Sci. Rev. 63(2), 119–134 (2020)
Pantano, E., Pizzi, G., Scarpi, D., Dennis, C.: Competing during a pandemic? retailers’ ups and downs during the COVID-19 outbreak. J. Bus. Res. 116, 209–213 (2020)
Ribino, P., Cossentino, M., Lodato, C., Lopes, S.: Agent-based simulation study for improving logistic warehouse performance. J. Simul. 12(1), 23–41 (2018)
Vuorinen, V., Aarnio, M., Alava, M., Alopaeus, V., Atanasova, N., et al.: Modelling aerosol transport and virus exposure with numerical simulations in relation to SARS-CoV-2 transmission by inhalation indoors. Saf. Sci. 130, 104886 (2020)
Wilensky, U., Rand, W.: An Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling: Modeling Natural, Social, and Engineered Complex Systems with NetLogo. MIT Press, Cambridge (2015)
Xu, Q., Chraibi, M.: On the effectiveness of the measures in supermarkets for reducing contact among customers during COVID-19 period. Sustainability 12, 9385 (2020)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Antczak, T., Skorupa, B., Szurlej, M., Weron, R., Zabawa, J. (2021). Simulation Modeling of Epidemic Risk in Supermarkets: Investigating the Impact of Social Distancing and Checkout Zone Design. In: Paszynski, M., Kranzlmüller, D., Krzhizhanovskaya, V.V., Dongarra, J.J., Sloot, P.M.A. (eds) Computational Science – ICCS 2021. ICCS 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12742. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77961-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77961-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-77960-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-77961-0
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)