Finding Good Paths: Applications of Least Cost Caloric Path Computations

As you walk around during your daily life, you commonly make path finding decisions based on the world around you. For example, when you are walking in the outdoors, you take the path of least resistance over a terrain. We present two applications which demonstrate the importance of using the least cost caloric cost path computation in two different domain settings. One application uses the popular Google Earth API to explore the use of least cost caloric path computations to create an interactive path-finding tool. The second tool uses least cost caloric path computations to enhance crowd simulations in the 3D modeling and rendering application, Maya. Both applications show that considering the cost of travel from a human centered perspective can produce better results for computing good walking paths for crowds and individuals.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: CATA
• Authors: Zoë J. Wood, Greg Hoffman, Mark Wazny
• Keywords: Caloric Path Computations, CATA 2010, Computer Science, Cost Caloric Path, Path Computations