Nontraversable

Nontraversable is an adjective used to describe a terrain, surface, path, or element that cannot be traversed or crossed by a given agent under specified constraints. It stands in opposition to traversable areas, which are designated as usable for movement or passage. In practice, whether something is nontraversable depends on the capabilities and rules applied to the agent, such as a robot’s locomotion, a vehicle’s clearance, or a human’s ability to climb.

In computing and spatial planning, nontraversable elements are commonly represented in maps, grids, and graphs as blocked or impassable regions. In occupancy grids for robotics, cells marked as nontraversable typically have infinite or prohibitive traversal costs and are excluded from path planning. In geographic information systems, nontraversable areas may correspond to walls, bodies of water, steep slopes, or private property, depending on the model and constraints used.

Nontraversability can be static or dynamic. Static nontraversable regions remain fixed (such as a permanent wall). Dynamic nontraversability arises from changing conditions (for example, temporary flooding, construction zones, or movable obstacles) and may alter a route’s viability over time.

Related concepts include traversable, impassable, and obstructed. In algorithms and simulations, identifying nontraversable areas is essential for accurate pathfinding, navigation, and feasibility analyses.