The most interesting paper for my thesis right know is from Eurographics 2009 - Spectral-Based Group Formation Control by Shigeo Takahashi et al.

Here is paper and presentation about Crowd Simulation that I prepared for Research Seminar in TU Wien
Advisor: Mgr. Martin Ilcik

Chapter download:

THESIS    

I'm looking for automatic approach for initial step - setting positions in formation for individuals to form a visually attractive shape.

KEYWORDS:
Animation,   Crowd,   Formation,    Position,   Particle Systems,   Procedural modelling