Background
The current Lanes solution provides a straightforward solution for simple junctions and simple ramps. The solution does not natively support complex junctions such as H and # junctions that are treated by heuristics.
This phase introduces paths.
What is a path?
A new map entity that represents a sequence of connected segments. Very similar to JB “paths” but with some major changes:
- Paths can be nested (IE: A path can start in the middle of another path)
- Paths’ segments can be split or merged as long as they don’t break existing paths going through them.
- Paths cannot control turn restrictions but have everything else that JB paths have (TIO, RS, Lanes…)
How to create a path
Example 1
- Select the entry segment and press command or control and select the exit segment. The first segment selected is the entry segment, the last segment selected is the exit segment. A special icon will appear.
- Click the create Far Turn icon.
- The “Create far turn” icon will be clickable only for valid paths: this includes proper connectivity, allowed turns, traffic is available in the right direction between the segments.
- The “Create far turn” icon will be clickable only for valid paths: this includes proper connectivity, allowed turns, traffic is available in the right direction between the segments.
- Populate the Far Turns for the path from the Lanes tab. Far turns will have no pre-populated arrow, you will have to manually define them if choosing to refer to these turns. Once defined, click apply and save.
Done!
Example 2 - Far Turns with 2 or more exit segments
- Select the entry segment and press command and select the exit segment,and then the other exit segment while still pressing command.. The first segment selected is the entry segment, the 2 last segments selected are the exit segments.
- A special Far Turn icon will appear. Click it.
- Populate the Far Turns, including the arrows. Click apply and save your edits.
Switching routes
The WME will choose the shortest path from the entry segment to the exit segment, and will show a “path selector” in the turn tooltip, that will enable the editors to change the path (as in Junction Boxes). Please note that we will only show the option of switching routes, if there are any available.
We will only display up to 3 shortest drivable paths. You can also manually select a path for rare cases in which you'd want to select a different route than the first one offered.
Check out this amazing Video How-To from Gil.
Deleting a Path
- To delete a path, first locate the path.
- Click it.
- Click the general tab.
- Delete the desired path by clicking the trashcan icon.
- To locate paths, make sure the Paths Layer is checked. Look for the icon of a white arrow inside a light blue circle.
- Deleting a path does not delete a segment.
- Deleting a segment that is part of a path will not be allowed. You should delete the path first.
- Editing the geometry of a segment will still be allowed while the segment is part of the path.
Automatic route
Automatic routes will only occur with up to 5 segments. From 6 segments and above, you should manually choose the route.
Limitations
- Paths cannot co-exist with Junction Box paths. A segment cannot be both part of a JB and a path, regardless of the length of the segment.
- Paths currently do not support Turn Restrictions, only Lane Guidance and Turn Instruction Override and Road shields are supported.
- A path cannot be longer than 1KM (same limitation as JBs).
- It is impossible to create multiple Paths between the same entry and exit segment.
- Paths still do not collect speed data (cross time information) as JBs do.
Known issues
- The Path icon appears in far zoom levels but they should appear from zoom level 15 only.
- Splitting/merging the path's entry segment fails: WME gets stuck if you click save but if you refresh the URL, the change has been saved.
- You cannot create new connected segments and also use those segments to create a path in the same transaction as WME will fail.
- The turn pop up to switch routes covers the available paths, which makes switching possible paths harder as they could be not visible.
- The tooltip "You can't delete a segment that is a part of a path" isn't always displayed when trying to delete a segment which is a part of the existing path.
