8legs: Marcel altenburg

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A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners - The Boston Globe

A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners by running multiple simulations to optimize flow and safety.
Organizers use crowd-science models to test different scenarios, changing variables to improve the runner experience within the existing time window.
The 30,000-plus field is now organized in six waves by qualifying time, expanding from previous practice to spread crowds and ease bottlenecks at the start.
Beyond waves, changes include unloading buses at the start, repositioning water and aid stations, and adjusting finish-line chutes to smooth the run.
Organizers emphasize preserving the race’s historic route and feel while aiming for a smoother start-to-finish experience.
The Boston Athletic Association plans to gather participant feedback over three years before deciding on expansion or further changes.
Marcel Altenburg, a senior crowd-science lecturer, brings experiences from major races, airports, and large events to optimize crowd safety and flow.
Altenburg notes the team simulates the race more than 100 times to validate what works best for runners under real conditions.
Officials aim to balance time and space constraints with crowd-management innovations to keep the event sustainable in a growing field.
The study underlines that while crowd science can influence logistics, runners still carry the responsibility of completing the course.

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