A crowding index for finite populations. 1990

F O'Brien
Naval Underwater Systems Center, Newport Laboratory, RI.

The classical definition of population density used in social science disciplines as a measure of density or physical crowding has severe shortcomings since actual spatial orientation is disregarded. A formula is proposed to measure physical crowding or population density which corrects the deficiency of the conventional formulation. As a generalization of the Euclidean distance formula, the proposed index measures relative population density as a function of spatial orientation and size of geometric area. Three mathematical properties of the index stated as conjectures have been supported by Monte Carlo simulations. The formula is evaluated and justified on three key scientific criteria: parsimony, mathematical soundness and empirical verifiability. Crowding is an obvious problem in the small compartmentalized workspaces of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. The measurement of physical crowding by use of the proposed formula in Concepts of Operations Experiments conducted at the Newport Laboratory of the Naval Underwater Systems Center is reported and discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010550 Personal Space Invisible boundaries surrounding the individual's body which are maintained in relation to others. Body Buffer Zone,Privacy of Space,Peripersonal Space,Body Buffer Zones,Buffer Zone, Body,Buffer Zones, Body,Peripersonal Spaces,Personal Spaces,Space Privacy,Space, Peripersonal,Space, Personal,Spaces, Peripersonal,Spaces, Personal,Zone, Body Buffer,Zones, Body Buffer
D003441 Crowding An excessive number of individuals, human or animal, in relation to available space.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000223 Adaptation, Psychological A state of harmony between internal needs and external demands and the processes used in achieving this condition. (From APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed). Behavior, Adaptive,Healthy Adaptation,Positive Adaptation,Psychological Recovery,Adaptation, Psychologic,Adjustment,Psychological Adaptation,Adaptation, Healthy,Adaptation, Positive,Adaptive Behavior,Adaptive Behaviors,Healthy Adaptations,Positive Adaptations,Psychologic Adaptation,Psychological Recoveries,Recovery, Psychological
D001143 Arousal Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system. Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D013366 Submarine Medicine The field of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the health of people in submarines or sealabs. Medicine, Submarine
D018504 Ecological Systems, Closed Systems that provide for the maintenance of life in an isolated living chamber through reutilization of the material available, in particular, by means of a cycle wherein exhaled carbon dioxide, urine, and other waste matter are converted chemically or by photosynthesis into oxygen, water, and food. (NASA Thesaurus, 1988) CELSS,Closed Ecologic Life Support Systems,Life Support Systems, Regenerative,Sealed Cabin Ecology,Breadboard Project,Closed Ecological Systems,Breadboard Projects,Cabin Ecologies, Sealed,Cabin Ecology, Sealed,Closed Ecological System,Ecological System, Closed,Ecologies, Sealed Cabin,Ecology, Sealed Cabin,Project, Breadboard,Projects, Breadboard,Sealed Cabin Ecologies,System, Closed Ecological,Systems, Closed Ecological

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