Node Types¶

This document is a reference document for the Node Types available on Pointr Cloud.

Portals¶

These nodes connect two places and are part of the wayfinding algorithm. The essential properties they have are a start point, an end point, and how much time it takes to traverse them in seconds.

Properties relevant to portals:

• Floor connection
  • Single floor
  • Two floors
  • Multiple floors
• Direction
  • Unidirectional
  • Bidirectional
• Accessibility access
  • None: Node doesn’t fit wheelchairs and doesn’t fit crutches, or it requires physical exertion to cross.
  • Comfortable: This node moves on its own or is easy to cross even if it doesn’t move.
  • Accessible: This node can fit wheelchairs, luggage carts, wheeled hospital equipment and so on.
• Travel time: Must be a number, in seconds.

Angular stairs¶

Angular stairs are similar to normal stairs, they have steps and are not accessible, the major difference is that this node represent stairs that are NOT vertically oriented stairwells, it connects only two floors, and two different points in each floor, not aligned vertically.

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• Not comfortable, require physical exertion to climb.
• Doesn’t allow wheeled vehicles such as wheelchairs.
• Default travel time 60 seconds.

Escalator¶

Escalators are self-moving stairs, they move the user both vertically and horizontally as if it was a ramp, but because they have steps, they are not appropriate for wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).

Their properties are:

• Connects to two floors.
• Are unidirectional. If you want to represent double-escalators where one goes up and one goes down, please add a second one to your map in the other direction.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• Doesn’t allow wheeled vehicles such as wheelchairs.
• Default travel time 45 seconds.

Interbuilding portal node¶

This represents any sort of connection that connects two separate buildings, for example it could represent a skybridge connecting two towers where each is its own building.

Their properties are:

• Connects two buildings.
• Are bidirectional.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Default travel time 600 seconds.

Elevator¶

Elevator nodes represent any vehicle that can move solely in the vertical direction (lift nodes are not appropriate for Gondola lifts, since they also move in horizontal direction).

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Default travel time 120 seconds.

Ramp¶

Ramps deal with any kind of ramp, but their primary usage is ramps in parking garages, as such they connect vertically, like a lift or stairwell, not allowing each floor having the connection in a different location.

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Default travel time 60 seconds.

Service lift¶

Service lift nodes represent any vehicle that can move solely in the vertical direction (lift nodes are not appropriate for Gondola lifts, since they also move in horizontal direction).

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Special feature: works exactly as the non-service counterpart but renders in another colour on the map.

Service stairs¶

The service stairs node represents stairwells intended for service employees, they accept multiple floors (like lifts) and assume the user will move only in the vertical direction, with no horizontal change of position.

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• Not comfortable, require physical exertion to climb.
• Doesn’t allow wheeled vehicles such as wheelchairs.
• Default travel time 60 seconds.
• Special feature: works exactly as the non-service counterpart but renders in another colour on the map.

Skewed lift¶

This is a normal lift but mounted on rails or cables that also move the lift horizontally, with the result in the end is that the user is moved both vertically and horizontally. One potential use of this device is allowing users to go up and down hills, with the lift rail mounted parallel to the hill outer surface.

Their properties are:

• Connects to two floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Default travel time 120 seconds.
• Special feature: Differently from normal lifts, those can shift the user position horizontally in addition to the vertical change.

Stairs¶

The stairs node represents stairwells, they accept multiple floors (like lifts) and assume the user will move only in the vertical direction, with no horizontal change of position.

Their properties are:

• Connects to multiple floors.
• Are bidirectional.
• Not comfortable, require physical exertion to climb.
• Doesn’t allow wheeled vehicles such as wheelchairs.
• Default travel time 60 seconds.

Moving walkways¶

This is also known as travelator, it works similarly to an escalator, but has no steps, instead it is flat, intended to move users for long distances without tiring them. Usually travellators are considered “accessible”, having enough space for wheelchairs or baggage carts. Keep in mind they are intended to connect two places in the same floor, they don’t allow floor change.

Their properties are:

• Connects to two places in a single floor.
• Are unidirectional. If you want to represent double-travelators where one goes “forward” and one goes “back”, please add a second one to your map in the other direction.
• They are comfortable (good for elderly people or someone using a crutch).
• They allow wheeled vehicles (such as wheelchairs).
• Default travel time 30 seconds.