News

Thunderhead Engineering is offering a workshop in London during the week of February 18 to educate users on PyroSim and Pathfinder. The PyroSim/FDS workshops are split into introductory and advanced courses which each last two days. The Pathfinder workshop is presented in a single day. Students will learn applicable skills to use fire and evacuation ... Read More...

This release adds support for BIM model import using the IFC format, more options for occupant models, and support for opening Results visualization in VR headset mode.  Read More...

The next releases of Pathfinder and PyroSim will include the capability to import Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files that describe building data. In Pathfinder, this can significantly speed model creation since it includes automatic extraction of  floors, doors, and stairs. This post demonstrates this feature.  Read More...

A long-term development goal has been to fully couple the PyroSim/FDS fire results with Pathfinder evacuation. A first step toward this goal is the capability to display both fire and evacuation results in the same results viewer. However, full coupling of the two simulations has not been completed. In the interim, it is possible to run the fire simulation, monitor the reduced visibility due to smoke, and then manually use that information to slow and re-direct occupants in response to the fire. This provides an example.  Read More...

The Fire and Evacuation Modeling Technical Conference (FEMTC) 2018 concluded earlier this month as a tremendous success. Moving back to the United States after visiting southern Spain in 2016, this year’s conference was held in Gaithersburg, Maryland just around the corner from the NIST campus. Over 70 individuals were in attendance. Conference members included engineers, ... Read More...

The next releases of Pathfinder and PyroSim will include the capability to display results using the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. This post gives a preview of how to use this capability.  Read More...

Register for FEMTC 2018 before August 15th, 2018 and save $100. Read More...

This post demonstrates how to use straight and curved ramps in Pathfinder. Straight ramps are supported using the Create Ramp tool, while curved ramps require CAD import and use of the Extract Floor tool.  Read More...

Views, Tours, and Section Boxes can now be created directly within the Results Viewer. These objects can be trasnferred from one set of results to another via import. Also, screenshots can be automatically generated based on the views and tours that are created. Read More...

This release includes wait times on doors, an option for occupants to shrink to move through narrow aisles, and console-based generation of randomized simulations. Changes to Results include creating views and section boxes, unit switching for concentration and temperature, and many other improvements. Read More...