Pathfinder 2023.1.0426

What's New

This version of Pathfinder uses version 11.0.16_8 of the OpenJDK Java VM.

General Purpose Elevators

Now in Pathfinder 2023.1 it is possible to create a new type of elevator which suits general-purpose needs. Previously, it was only possible to model elevators in an evacuation mode which delivered all riders to the discharge floor for safe evacuation. SCAN, the new type of elevator available in Pathfinder, allows occupants to use elevators for travel to and from any valid floor - suitable for ingress modeling.

By selecting SCAN from the Type dropdown menu, an elevator will follow this new algorithm. If an occupant calls an elevator to travel upward, it will stop at intermediary floors and pick up additional occupants who are traveling upward. Once it has no more upward requests, it will wait for the next call in either direction. Occupants will automatically use an elevator if it is the only or most efficient path to their destination. It is also possible to specify the existing Goto Elevator Behavior action for a specific floor.

Plot Object Output Data

Results offers the ability to select objects such as rooms, doors, or occupants and plot their output quantities. This makes it quicker and easier to access results data.

Depending on the object type selected, a right-click menu will display appropriate plot options. Multiple objects of the same type can be simultaneously selected and plotted together. With detailed occupant CSV output enabled, there are new plots available including distance, speed, time to exit, and FED (with provided relevant FDS output).

In order to support these new features, the _rooms.csv and _doors.csv files have a new format. The plot window includes an Export Data action from the File menu.

Improved 3D Room Drawing

When drawing new rooms with the 3D camera enabled, dashed projection lines will ensure your points snap where you expect. This is useful when using geometry on a different floor as a guide.

When using the cursor to snap to existing geometry points, the dashed lines will display the projection onto the active drawing plane. This works with both the polygonal and rectangular room tools.

Increased Interface Consistency

PyroSim, Pathfinder, and Results will all look and feel more similar to each other in 2023.1. For the upcoming release, we have prioritized resolving many differences between these applications and how users interact with them. Switching between the various interfaces should now feel more familiar.

Changes since Pathfinder 2022.3.1207:

UI Improvements and Changes

• Added missing icons in the Model menu.
• Changed to a two icon wide tool palette for consistency with PyroSim.
• Replaced render options toolbar buttons with a dropdown.
• Added lightbulbs to filter action icons.
• Removed delete toolbar action.
• Removed separators between combo boxes and button groups.
• Matched the order of menu items.
• Added missing menu icons.

Elevators

• Added different modes of operation for Elevators. The EVAC elevator type will perform egress elevator operations, and the new SCAN elevator type will perform general-purpose elevator operations.
• Added a new Target Floor field for the Goto Elevators Action, which will dictate the floor that occupants using the action will attempt to discharge at.

Monte Carlo

• The monte carlo case generator now provides a profiles parameter for occupant profile reassignment.

Bug Fixes

• The current expansion state of a group node is now preserved when dragging and dropping an item into the group.
• Fixed a bug that broke Monte Carlo results plotting for internationalized versions
• Fixed a crash that could occur when opening legacy models if the Behaviors group or Profiles group is expanded.

Other Improvements and Changes

• Renamed Jam Time and related outputs to Congestion.
• Updated Congestion (formerly Jam Time) calculation to compare the average velocity over a trailing time period to the threshold. This prevents resetting Continuous Congestion values due to small movements.
• Improved snapping for planar geometry tools (e.g. rooms, occupant sources, measurement regions) when drawing in the Perspective View.
• Improved distributions of certain random choices made by occupants over time, such as the choice of behavior when using a change behavior action or whether to choose an attractor.

Changes to Results:

Quantity Plotting

• Added the ability to plot quantities related to a room, door, or occupant by right clicking them in Results.

UI Improvements and Changes

• Added floor tool-bar above navigation view.
• Removed separators between combo boxes and button groups.
• Matched the order of menu items.
• Added missing menu icons.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where background images cannot be shown.
• Fixed some screen artifacts when using SMAA 2x or motion blur.
• Fixed a crash that could occur when trying to load a corrupt s3d file for fire/smoke. Results will now try to skip corrupt data.
• Fixed an issue where the lower-left axes exhibited aliasing when using one of the SMAA anti-aliasing options.