Pathfinder 2011 Reference Documents

• Users Guide for Pathfinder 2011
• Technical Reference Manual for Pathfinder 2011
• verification_validation_2011-0-0711.pdf

Example Guides

• Getting Started - Basic overview of Pathfinder. Showing how to download, install and activate the program. Then, covers how to open a model, run a simulation, view the output results and open the 3D viewer. (Requires: multi-floor-stairwell.pth)
• Room with a Hallway - This example has 16 occupants in a room that leads to a hallway with an exit.
• SFPE Example 1 - This example attempts to reproduce example 1 in the SFPE Engineering Guide - Human Behavior in Fire (SFPE, 2003). We determine the total movement time for a room containing 300 people. The room has a travel distance of up to 200 feet to egress through two 32-inch doors that lead to two enclosed 44-inch stairs (height and depth of tread of 7 inches and 11 inches, respectively) and down 50 feet of stairs to a wide discharge at grade.
• SFPE Example 2 - This is the second example in the SFPE Engineering Guide - Human Behavior in Fire (SFPE, 2003). The example determines the total movement time for a 5-story building.
• Stairwell Example - This example represents an outer section of a dormitory wing with 30 persons randomly distributed inside. The persons will move through their respective halls and down a stairway to exit the model.
• Stairwell with Elevator Example - In this example, we will start with the stairwell example and then add an elevator.
• How to Sketch on Background Image - This example demonstrates how to import a file as a background image and then create the model by sketching. (Requires: PNG Background Image)
• How to build a model using 2D DXF file - This example demonstrates how to import a 2D DXF file and automatically extract rooms to create a Pathfinder file. The DXF used is the floor plan for the Thunderhead Engineering office. (Requires: Thunderhead Office DXF file)
• How to build a model using 3D FDS data - This example demonstrates how to extract rooms from imported 3D data and work with multiple floors. The 3D data will come from the FDS townhouse example. (Requires: Townhouse FDS Input File)
• IMO test 1: Maintaining set walking speed in a corridor - This example describes International Maritime Organization Test 1 (IMO, 2002). One person in a corridor 2 m wide and 40 m long with a walking speed of 1 m/s should be demonstrated to cover this distance in 40 s.
• IMO test 6: Rounding corners - This example describes International Maritime Organization Test 6 (IMO, 2002). Twenty persons approaching a left-hand corner (see Figure 1) will successfully navigate around the corner without penetrating the boundaries.
• IMO test 8: Counterflow in two rooms connected via a corridor - This example is based on International Maritime Organization Test 8 [IMO, 2002]. It is designed to measure the effect of counterflow. Two 10 m long by 10 m wide rooms are connected by a corridor which is 10 m long by 2 m wide. 100 occupants will start in room 1 and leave via an exit in room 2. The walking speed of each occupant will be generated from a uniform distribution where min=0.97 m/s and max=1.62 m/s.
• IMO test 9: Room with four exits - This example describes International Maritime Organization Test 9 (IMO, 2002). There is a public room with four exits and 1000 occupants uniformly distributed in the room. Occupants leave via the nearest exits. The population has uniformly distributed walking speeds (Minimum = 0.97 m/s, Mean = 1.3 m/s, and Maximum = 1.62 m/s).
• IMO test 10: Exit route allocation - This example describes International Maritime Organization Test 10, consisting of a cabin corridor with two exits. 23 persons are distributed over the 12 cabins and leave via their allocated exits. The people in cabins 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are allocated the main exit. All the remaining passengers are allocated the secondary exit. The expected result is that the allocated passengers move to the appropriate exits.
• IMO test 11: Staircase - This example describes International Maritime Organization Test 11: a room connected to a stair via a corridor. 150 people start in the room, with walking speeds evenly distributed from 0.97 to 1.62 meters per second. The expected result is the formation of congestion leading into the hallway and at the base of the stairs.

License Activation

To activate your copy of Pathfinder:

1. Start Pathfinder
2. In the Licensing and Activation dialog, select Online Activation
3. In the Key box, type the activation key from your purchase receipt email
4. Click Activate

The information at the bottom of the Licensing and Activation dialog should be updated to show your new license information. If you receive an error message or are otherwise unable to use the online activation feature, please contact support@thunderheadeng.com.

Troubleshooting

Please contact Thunderhead Engineering for technical support.
The list of known issues and workarounds can be found in the users manual.

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