Instructions for use

Trace Shortest Path supports three Analysis Types: Shortest Path between any two elements, Trace Upstream Shortest Path, and Trace Down stream Shortest Path.

Shortest Path between any two points/arc segments

Calculate the Shortest Path between the two added nodes or arcs.

Trace Upstream Shortest Path

It is used for the upstream path analysis of the facility network. According to the given node/arc segment, the path with the least upstream cost is queried.

As shown in the figure below, it is assumed that the material flowing in the facility network is represented by water flow. Point Q is a sink, then point Q will receive the input of the flow. The flow direction is shown by the arrow in the figure. Then, the nodes A, B, C, L, E, F and G in the figure are all the upstream nodes of point Q, and can also be the upstream nodes of point Q, because the water flowing out of these nodes finally flows into point Q; while the arcs AB, BC, CL, LQ, EB, FG and GL are the upstream arcs of point Q, also known as the upstream of point Q.

In addition, with respect to the arc segment LQ, the nodes A, B, C, L, E, F, and G are also the upstream nodes of the arc segment LQ, also called the upstream of the arc segment LQ; and the arc segments AB, BC, CL, EB, FG, and GL are the upstream arc segments of the arc segment LQ, also called the upstream of the arc segment LQ.

Trace Downstream Shortest Path

It is used for the downstream routing path analysis of the facility network. According to the given node/arc segment, it queries the path with the least cost downstream.

As shown in the figure below, suppose that the water flow represents the material flowing in the facility network, the point Q is a source point, and the water flow will flow out from the point Q in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, then the nodes A, B, C, L, E, F and G in the figure are all downstream nodes of the point Q, also known as the downstream of the point Q. Because these nodes receive the water flowing out of the point Q; and the arc segments BA, CB, LC, QL, BE, GF, LG are the downstream arc segments of the point Q, also referred to as the downstream of the point Q.

In addition, with respect to the arc segment QL, the nodes A, B, C, L, E, F, and G are also the downstream nodes of the arc segment QL, also referred to as the downstream of the arc segment QL; and the arc segments BA, CB, LC, BE, GF, and LG are the downstream arc segments of the arc segment QL, also referred to as the downstream of the arc segment QL.