Visualization Setup

This guide covers how to set up visual feedback for AirPath, including path lines, grid overlays, and debug visualization. All visualization is optional — AirPath works without it.

Prerequisites

Complete the Custom Minimal Setup first. You should have a working pathfinding setup before adding visualization.

Creating the Visualization Configuration

1. Right-click in your Project window
2. Select Create → Pathfinding → Configurations → Visualization Configuration
3. Name it VisualizationConfig

Configuration Reference

Path Visualization Toggles

These toggles control which visual elements are active:

Setting	Default	Description
Show Path Line	true	Display a LineRenderer along the calculated path
Show Path Cell Colors	false	Highlight start/end grid cells with colored overlays
Show Debug Gizmos	false	Draw gizmos in the Scene view for debugging
Show Heatmap Grid	false	Display terrain height sampling as a colored grid

Path Line Settings

Configure how the path line appears:

Setting	Default	Description
Path Line Renderer Prefab	—	(Required if Show Path Line is enabled) A prefab with a LineRenderer component
Path Line Height	15	Height offset above terrain for the path line (0–50)
Path Material	—	Material applied to the LineRenderer
Path Color	Blue	Color of the path line
Path Line Width Curve	Linear	AnimationCurve controlling line width along the path
Path Line Width	2	Base width of the path line (0.1–5)

Grid Visualization

Configure terrain grid overlays:

Setting	Default	Description
Heat Map Cube Prefab	—	(Required if Show Heatmap Grid is enabled) Prefab for grid cell visualization
Path Cell Prefab	—	(Required if Show Path Cell Colors is enabled) Prefab for path cell overlays
Cell Transparency	0.8	Alpha value for cell overlays (0.1–1)
Start Cell Color	Green	Color for the path start position
End Cell Color	Red	Color for the path end position

Debug Settings

Setting	Default	Description
Show Boundary Warnings	true	Log warnings when positions are clamped to grid bounds
Show Speed Indicators	false	Display agent speed debug info
Debug Path Color	Cyan	Color used for debug gizmos

Setting Up Path Line Visualization

The path line shows a visible line along the calculated path. This is the most common visualization.

Step 1: Create the LineRenderer Prefab

1. Create an empty GameObject: GameObject → Create Empty
2. Name it PathLineRenderer
3. Add a LineRenderer component
4. Configure the LineRenderer:
   • Positions Size: 0 (AirPath will populate this)
   • Width: Set via curve or multiplier
   • Material: Assign a material (Unlit or Particles work well)
5. Drag the GameObject into your Project to create a prefab
6. Delete the GameObject from the scene

Step 2: Assign the Prefab

1. Select your VisualizationConfig asset
2. Assign the prefab to Path Line Renderer Prefab
3. Optionally assign a Path Material
4. Ensure Show Path Line is enabled

Step 3: Connect to TerrainController

The TerrainController component handles visualization. Add it to your Terrain:

1. Select your Terrain GameObject
2. Add the TerrainController component (if not already present)
3. Assign your PathfindingConfig to Pathfinding Configuration
4. Assign your VisualizationConfig to Visualization Configuration

Step 4: Connect to PathfindingManager

1. Select your PathfindingManager GameObject
2. Assign the Terrain's TerrainController to the Terrain Controller field

Now when you calculate a path, a visible line will appear.

Setting Up Grid Cell Visualization

Grid cell visualization highlights individual cells on the terrain grid.

Creating the Prefabs

Both Heat Map Cube Prefab and Path Cell Prefab need:

• A MeshRenderer component
• A simple mesh (cube works well)
• A material that supports transparency

Quick setup:

1. Create a cube: GameObject → 3D Object → Cube
2. Remove the BoxCollider component
3. Create a new material with transparency:
   • Rendering Mode: Transparent (for Standard shader)
   • Or use Unlit/Transparent shader
4. Assign the material to the cube
5. Drag to Project to create prefab
6. Delete from scene

Create two prefabs (or reuse the same one):

• HeatMapCube — for terrain height visualization
• PathCell — for start/end position highlighting

Assigning the Prefabs

1. Select your VisualizationConfig asset
2. Assign Heat Map Cube Prefab (if using heatmap grid)
3. Assign Path Cell Prefab (if using path cell colors)
4. Enable the corresponding toggles

Visualization Features Explained

Path Line

Shows the calculated path as a continuous line above the terrain. Useful for:

• Confirming paths are calculated correctly
• Visual feedback in games
• Debugging path issues

Path Cell Colors

Highlights the start (green) and end (red) grid cells. Useful for:

• Seeing exact grid cell positions
• Debugging coordinate conversions
• Understanding grid resolution

Heatmap Grid

Displays the entire terrain as colored grid cells based on sampled height. Useful for:

• Understanding how AirPath "sees" your terrain
• Debugging height sampling
• Visualizing grid resolution

Performance Note

The heatmap grid creates one GameObject per grid cell. With a 64×64 grid, that's 4,096 objects. Use only for debugging, not in production.

Debug Gizmos

Draws visualization in the Scene view (not visible in Game view). Shows:

• Path waypoints
• Grid boundaries
• Mode-specific indicators

Minimal Visualization Setup

If you just want basic path visualization without the full setup:

1. Create VisualizationConfig asset
2. Enable only Show Path Line
3. Create a simple LineRenderer prefab
4. Assign it to the config
5. Add TerrainController to your Terrain with both configs assigned
6. Reference the TerrainController in PathfindingManager

Everything else is optional.

Troubleshooting

Path line doesn't appear

• Check Show Path Line is enabled
• Verify Path Line Renderer Prefab is assigned
• Ensure the prefab has a LineRenderer component
• Check the LineRenderer material is visible (not transparent/culled)

Grid cells don't show colors

• Check Show Path Cell Colors is enabled
• Verify Path Cell Prefab is assigned
• Ensure TerrainController has both configurations assigned
• Check that Show Heatmap Grid is enabled (cells overlay the heatmap)

"Heat map cube prefab is required" warning

Enable Show Heatmap Grid requires the Heat Map Cube Prefab to be assigned. Either assign a prefab or disable the heatmap.

Cells are invisible

• Check your prefab material uses a transparent shader
• Verify Cell Transparency isn't set too low
• Ensure the material color isn't black with 0 alpha

What's Next?

• Performance Tuning — Optimize for your use case