Pathfinder (Beta)
Pathfinder is an agent based egress and human movement simulator. It provides a graphical user interface for simulation design and execution as well as a 3D visualization tool for results analysis. The movement environment is a full 3D triangulated mesh designed to match the real dimensions of a building model. Occupants are modeled as circles on the movement mesh and travel using an agent-based technique called inverse steering. Each occupant calculates movements independently and can be given a unique set of parameters (maximum speed, exit choice, etc.).
Pathfinder includes an SFPE mode that corresponds to the movement calculations described in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. The SFPE mode results provide a reference calculation that can be compared with more complex movement analyses.
Pathfinder is now available for free beta testing. You can download the software for free and no registration process is required. If you use the software, please visit the Pathfinder forum and tell us about your experience.
Beta Software Download
Pathfinder - Pathfinder installer (Windows-only), Updated July 10, 2008
Documentation
Users Manual
Example Manual
Technical Manual
Pathfinder Forum <-- Please share your experience!
Beta Licensing
You can test out the Pathfinder beta for free. Please give us feedback in the forum to let us know what features and improvements you would like to see in the commercial release.
When you install Pathfinder a license file (pathfinder_beta.lic) will be placed in your license directory (C:\ProgramData\Pathfinder\license on Vista). This license file will allow the Pathfinder beta to run until December 31, 2008.
Screenshots
Example Files
sfpe1.pth Example problem 1
sfpe2.pth Example problem 2
imo1.pth Maintaining set walking speed in corridor
imo6.pth Rounding corners
imo8_counterflow.pth Counterflow in two rooms connected via a corridor
imo9_4exits.pth Room with four exits
imo10.pth Exit route allocation
imo11.pth Staircase
hallway.pth Room with hallway
splitmerge.pth Splitting and merging flow
Disclaimer
The current version of Pathfinder is available for beta testing only and should not be considered a reliable tool for use in safety-critical applications.
Thunderhead Engineering makes no warranty, expressed or implied, to users of Pathfinder, and accepts no responsibility for its use. Users of Pathfinder assume sole responsibility under Federal law for determining the appropriateness of its use in any particular application; for any conclusions drawn from the results of its use; and for any actions taken or not taken as a result of analyses performed using these tools.
Users are warned that Pathfinder is intended for use only by those competent in the field of egress modeling. Pathfinder is intended only to supplement the informed judgment of the qualified user. The software package is a computer model that may or may not have predictive capability when applied to a specific set of factual circumstances. Lack of accurate predictions by the model could lead to erroneous conclusions. All results should be evaluated by an informed user.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Number DMI-0521897. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.