Quick Info
Symposium Date: August 19, 2026
Symposium Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Webinar Link:
Location: ADERSIM Lab, Schulich Building, York University, 111 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, Canada
In person and virtual participation via Zoom
Speakers Registrations: We have closed our call.
Deadline for presentation submissions: July 31
Participants Registration: If you are interested in participating in the symposium remotely, please register here. Unfortunately, we no longer have space for additional in-person participation.
Deadline for in person participants registration: August 15 (closed)
Deadline for remote participants registration: August 17
Important notes:
There is no registration fee for attending or presenting in this symposium.
Symposium organizers are unable to support travel & accommodation for participants and presenters.
BACKGROUND
The Challenge of Mega-Events
With the arrival of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ in Toronto, the critical importance of crowd management and safety at mass gatherings has been thrust into the spotlight. Mega-events of this scale bring together staggering volumes of spectators, creating complex movement flows that demand seamless, multi-layered coordination across various public safety and urban operation sectors. Recent global experiences have clearly demonstrated that major sports and entertainment gatherings extend far beyond recreation; they present profound challenges for emergency management and risk mitigation. In these high-stakes environments, even minor oversights in crowd flow design or venue operations can yield far-reaching consequences.
Bridging Science, Simulation, and Practice
To navigate these complex urban challenges, the first Symposium on Crowd Management and Safety in Mass Gatherings provides a premier platform for uniting scientific research, practical application, and professional training. Jointly organized by CIFAL York, Responsible AI Lab, AIMLAB, and ADERSIM, this event brings together experts, researchers, and on-the-ground practitioners to share actionable insights and lessons learned directly from the planning and execution of the world's largest sporting events.
By focusing on the intersection of crowd dynamics, behavioral modeling, transportation mobility, and multi-agency communication, this symposium goes beyond theoretical discussion. It is designed to equip attendees with the advanced knowledge, operational strategies, and risk assessment tools required to transform vulnerabilities into highly coordinated safety measures—ensuring future mass gatherings are safe, enjoyable, and inclusive for all.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The main goals and objectives of this one-day symposium are:
- Crowd Dynamics and Behavior – Understanding and managing large-scale crowds
- AI-Driven Crowd Solutions – Leveraging smart analytics for real-time predictive modeling and behavior analysis
- Drone-Powered Crowd Monitoring – Utilizing aerial surveillance to enhance situational awareness and rapid response
- Mass Events Planning and Operations – From strategic planning to on-the-ground execution
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation of Mass Gathering Events– Identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies
- Transportation and Mobility Management – Moving millions safely and efficiently
- Multi-Agency Coordination and Communication – Working together for a safe event and addressing the challenges of hosting mass gatherings
TARGET AUDIENCES/PARTICIPANTS
- Faculty members of different disciplines
- Researchers
- Public safety and emergency response professionals
- Graduate and undergraduate students
- Policy makers
- Representatives of NGOs
Preliminary Program (Subject to Change)
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-09:40 Opening Session
Welcoming Address:
Ali Asgary, Jude Kong and Jerry Kponyo
Ravi de Costa (he / him), Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, YORK UNIVERSITY
Keynote Address
Craig Young, Superintendent, Emergency Management & Public Order, Toronto Police Service
Session 1: 9:40-10:30
Crowd Management in Toronto: Some Observations
Jack Rozdilsky, York University
Were We "Ready for it...": Lessons Learned from the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Toronto
Talia Shortt, York University (Remote Presentation)
Coffee Break
10:40 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Session 2: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
11:00-11:20
Coordinating Major Planned Events: The Role of Toronto Emergency Management in Multi-Agency Coordination and Situational Awareness
Michael Bosnyak and Mark Phair, Toronto Emergency Management, City of Toronto
11:20-11:40
Protecting Major Events and Mass Gatherings: The Drone and Counter-Drone Landscape
Sheraz Arshad, Air Support Unit and Strategic Initiatives Office, Emergency Management and Public Order, Toronto Police Service
11:40-12:00
Impacts of Mobile Phone Use on Movement Behaviours during Stadium Events
John Gales and Hannah Carton, York University
12:00-12:20
Heat-Related Crowd Behavior Detection at Mass Gatherings: Case of Toronto World Cup 2026
Ali Asgary, Solmaz Arzhangi, Efia Birago, Juliet Arthur, Eunhyeong Jeong, and Alexander Zhang, ADERSIM, York University
Lunch Break: 12:20 p.m.- 13:30 p.m.
Complementary at the venue
Session 3: 13:30-15:30 PM
13:30-14:00
Drone-based Crowd Monitoring Technologies
Pedram Nowroozi, InfinitDrones Corp
14:00-14:30
An Agentic AI Human-in-the-Loop Framework for Public Health Surveillance at Mass Gatherings: A FIFA World Cup Case Study
Jude Kong and Zahra Movahedi Nia, University of Toronto
14:30-15:00
From Cameras to Crowd Intelligence: Using Behavioral AI to Enhance Safety and Operational Awareness at Large-Scale Events
Mateo Chiyangi, Lauretta AI (Remote Presentation)
15:00-15:20 Coffee Break
15:20-15:50
Nudging Crowd Dynamics: Leveraging Leader Credibility for Effective Emergency Evacuation
Navid Khademi, University of Tehran (Remote Presentation)
15:50-16:20
Crowds in Motion: Simulating Behavior, Built Environments, and Emerging Interactions
Muhammad Usman, Ontario Tech University
16:20-16:50
Modeling Sport Stadium Crowd Disasters in Africa
Jerry Kponyo, and Musah Ibrahim Ali (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
16:50-17:00 Closing Session
Organizers
Ali Asgary, Professor of Disaster & Emergency Management and Director of CIFAL York, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Maleknaz Nayebi, Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and past Associate Director of CIFAL York, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Jerry John Kponyo, MGhIE, MIEEE, Professor of Telecommunication Engineering
Director, Office of Grants and Research, Vice-Chancellor's Office Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Jude Kong, Assistant Professor (School of Public Health), Director AIMLab, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Francesco del Carpio, Operations Coordinator,m CIFAL York, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Solmaz Arzhangi, Coordinator, Crowd Simulation and Management Lab, ADERSIM, York University, Toronto, Canada
Sponsors & Additional Information
If interested sponsoring this event or have questions about the symposium program please contact Dr. Ali Asgary: cifaldirector@yorku.ca or Francesco del Carpio at cifalom@yorku.ca