What’s New in Version 3.4.1¶
Following customers’ requests, these are the main new features of the latest Pathfinder release:
Previous releases:
Corridor Map for Explore Algorithm¶
The Corridor Map shows at a glance where the optimal paths calculated by routing algorithm may be located, offering a summary of different alternative routes.
Now a more precise Corridor Map is available for the Explore routing algorithm, showing where near-optimal routes are possible and highlighting with a heat map the corridors which are common to many potential solutions.
Optimal Siting Geoprocess¶
In addition to routing analysis, Pathfinder is often used to determine optimal locations for infrastructures using a limited area, like power plants or electric substations.
Resistance maps can be used as a suitability map to locate the infrastructure, with smaller values representing more suitable locations.
A new geoprocess has been implemented to automatically find site candidates which optimize the sum of resistance map values (therefore, are more suitable to locate the infrastructure), given the desired area in square meters and the preferred shape (square, rectangle, circle or ellipse).
In this example, optimal rectangular areas are found fitting low-resistance zones:
Similarly, in this example, optimal elliptical areas of the desited size are found on the Resistance Map.
As in other geoprocesses, the resulting sites can be exported to a GIS file, and also added to the Pathfinder project.
Two Factor Authentication¶
To improve access control, individual users can now activate a Two Factor Authentication login process, which will add an additional verification step with a registered mobile device.
You can find this new option in the Security tab of your User Profile.
When clicking on the Enable TFA button, the page will show a form with a QR code. Authenticator apps in your mobile device (like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, etc. You need to install one if you don’t already have it) can register Pathfinder by scanning this code.
The authenticator app will then provide a 6-digit code that you should enter in the “Verification PIN” input box to complete the activation by clicking on the Register Two-Factor App button.
Don’t forget to save in a secure place (like a password manager) your recovery codes, which will be needed in case you need to recover access.
After the activation, when a user logs in, an additional step will require him/her to enter the 6-digit code generated at that time by the registered authentication app:
Note
Two Factor Authentication (TFA) in Pathfinder is not available for Single Sign On users, since in that case authentication is done by their own company service, which may already include TFA.
Automatic Logout When Inactive¶
Another new feature that improves Pahfinder security is the automatic logout when the user has been inactive for a long period (30 minutes). This prevents inappropriate accesses if you leave a session open.
When you return to Pathfinder after a long period of inactivity you will briefly see a notification of token expiration and then the application will show the login page.
Note
Inactivity means that the user does not perform any read or write operation in Pathfinder, such as opening a project, adding data, change the visibility of a result or data element, changing any properties, running processes… Simply selecting the Pathfinder tab in the web browser or navigating in the map do not count as activity.
Note
If you see a refresh loop in the login page after the automatic logout, just close the web browser tab and open a new one to log in.
Multiband Raster Import¶
Pathfinder now supports importing rasters with multiple bands. For instance, multispectral satellite imagery may include different bands with useful information.
After importing a raster with multiple bands, the user will be able to add them separately as layers in the project.
Resizable Left and Right Panels¶
The left and right panels have now a variable width, which can be changed by dragging the handles at their borders:
By clicking on the handle, the panel will close and open again.
Disclaimer: the scenarios depicted in this manual do not represent actual customer projects or infrastructure proposals, and are presented for demonstration purposes only.
For more help, please use the help chat in the application, or contact Gilytics.