Pathfinder 2023.2

What's New

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

Triggers

Pathfinder 2023.2 introduces new enhancements to the utilization of Attractors in model applications. In this latest version, Triggers (previously known as Attractors) can now be linked to a mobile occupant. This development opens up a wide array of simulation possibilities, such as facilitating information exchange, communicating with first responders, and enabling model-wide alerts. Triggers enhance the flexibility and versatility of Pathfinder, empowering users to create more realistic and complex simulations.

In the video above, an occupant walks through a corridor. As the occupant "talks" with other occupants, they are encouraged to move to a refuge room. These behavior changes are "triggered" by the use of a Trigger that is attached to the yellow occupant.

Profile Properties

This release introduces the Change Profile Property Action, which allows users to modify a single parameter across multiple occupant profiles. For instance, if there is a change in the model that affects the movement speed of all occupants, regardless of their assigned profile, this action can be used. Once the reason for the speed change is resolved, such as when an alert is turned off, all occupants can be prompted to return to their normal speed.

Geometry Replacement

Pathfinder 2023.2 allows for geometry to change during the course of a simulation. In the short video above, the white board and desk change color after a few seconds. Along with the imported fire data, Pathfinder can now emulate fire damage in the model.

UI Improvements

There have been a number of improvements to the look of PyroSim, Pathfinder and Ventus.

This includes a new default theme for all products. In addition, a modern look and feel, the new theme improves support for multiple monitors with different display scales.

Additionally, all products now use the native Windows File Chooser for file opens and saves. This enhances integration with cloud-based document management systems and enables users to quickly find files by copying and pasting file paths.

Changes since Pathfinder 2023.1.0524:

Triggers

• Renamed "Attractors" to "Triggers" to reflect broader use cases.
• Added Trigger Templates, which define Triggers that can be dynamically created and destroyed by occupants during the simulation with the new Create Trigger and Destroy Trigger Behavior Actions. These Triggers can optionally be attached to the Occupant to create moving Triggers.
• Added the Goto Current Trigger Behavior Action to allow for more complex Behaviors when you want to use a Trigger's location.
• Added a Trigger Rank that is used to choose a Trigger when an Occupant needs to choose among multiple available.
• Added the ability for higher rank Triggers to interrupt lower rank Trigger Behaviors.
• Added the ability for a Trigger to filter Occupants by tag. This works in conjunction with the existing Profile property to filter Triggers.
• Added the ability for a trigger to ignore an occupant's Trigger susceptibility for easier setup.
• Added more control over when an occupant will use a trigger with a new trigger Decision Time property.

Tags

• Added Tags to allow more control over individual Occupants during a simulation.
• Added the ability to specify Tags for a Profile or Occupant.
• Added the ability to specify/modify Tags when an Occupant enters/exits a Room/Stair/Ramp or crosses through a Door.
• Added the Change Tags Behavior Action to specify/modify an Occupant's Tags during a simulation.
• Added the Goto Occupant Behavior Action which allows Occupants to seek and/or follow other Occupants with specific Tags.

Profile Property Modification

• Added the Change Profile Property Behavior Action to change a single Profile property for an Occupant rather than the entire Profile.
• Added the Reset Profile Property Behavior Action to reset a single Profile property for an Occupant back to the Profile's value.

Miscellaneous

• Added the ability to script changes to the visibility of Imported Geometry over time for use in Results. Can be used to emulate changes to the geometry over time, such as for showing damage to the environment.

UI Improvements

• Added a Theme menu to the View menu.
• Added a Classic Theme.
• Added a Light Theme.
• Changed the default Theme to Light.
• Updated File Chooser dialogs to use the system's native dialog.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a simulation discrepancy that could occur when executing a Pathfinder simulation containing Triggers (Attractors) using the user interface versus using the TestSim utility.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash if the user created an Occupant Source with no valid intervals.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when running a simulation that contains both implicit elevators and movement groups.
• Fixed a bug where Trigger usage might be too high when Occupants are seeking, and have different seek/idle Trigger susceptibilities.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when showing a file chooser dialog.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when showing a file chooser dialog if the user has a remote drive mapped, but not accessible.
• Fixed a bug that could cause crushed text fields in some dialogs if monitor scaling is not set to 100%.
• Fixed a bug that could cause the 3d View to become skewed when zooming with the Roam tool if monitor scaling is not set to 100%.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash during simulation if a Goto Refuge Rooms Action is used when there are no Refuge Rooms in the model.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when moving the mouse over a vertex in the 3D view.
• Fixed a bug that could allow imported CAD material/appearance parameters to have invalid values, which could cause display artifacts.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a failure to find a valid navigation mesh location at the start of a simulation for objects (Triggers, Occupant Targets, etc.) placed on Stairs.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash when running a simulation if a Queue Service was not aligned to floor geometry.

Changes to Results:

• Added display of Triggers.
• Added support for scripted changes to the visibility of Imported Geometry over time as set up in Pathfinder.
• Added Output Cell Region to the View options to change the visibility of output data in gas-phase cells, solid-phase, or both.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where 2D Slices, Isosurfaces, and Points created from 3D Slices and Plot3D output and saved in the Visualization file would be missing when the file is re-opened.