On oscillations in the Social Force Model

•The Social Force Model of pedestrian dynamics is investigated for oscillations.•A proof is given that approaching a destination a pedestrian oscillates forever.•Approaching another person it depends on parameters; oscillations can be avoided.•Elliptical specification II shows fewer oscillations than circular specification.•Oscillations can be utilized to verify correct software implementation.

The Social Force Model is one of the most prominent models of pedestrian dynamics. As such naturally much discussion and criticism have spawned around it, some of which concerns the existence of oscillations in the movement of pedestrians. This contribution is investigating under which circumstances, parameter choices, and model variants oscillations do occur and how this can be prevented. It is shown that oscillations can be excluded if the model parameters fulfill certain relations. The fact that with some parameter choices oscillations occur and with some not is exploited to verify a specific computer implementation of the model.