diff --git a/GEMstack/mathutils/transforms.py b/GEMstack/mathutils/transforms.py
index a29ec48e2..7a5a7a8dd 100644
--- a/GEMstack/mathutils/transforms.py
+++ b/GEMstack/mathutils/transforms.py
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ def point_segment_distance(x,a,b) -> Tuple[float,float]:
     udotv = np.dot(u,v)
     if udotv < 0:
         return vector_norm(u),0
-    elif udotv > vnorm:
+    elif udotv > vnorm**2:
         return vector_norm(vector_sub(x,b)),1
     else:
-        param = udotv/vnorm
-        return vector_norm(vector_sub(u,vector_mul(v,param/vnorm))),param
+        param = udotv/vnorm**2
+        return vector_norm(vector_sub(u,vector_mul(v,param))),param
 
 def rotate2d(point, angle : float, origin=None):
     """Rotates a point about the origin by an angle"""
diff --git a/GEMstack/utils/settings.py b/GEMstack/utils/settings.py
index b2470ce25..65d1ef467 100644
--- a/GEMstack/utils/settings.py
+++ b/GEMstack/utils/settings.py
@@ -1,23 +1,33 @@
 import json
-from ..knowledge import defaults
 import copy
 from typing import List,Union,Any
 
 SETTINGS = None
 
-def load_settings():
+def load_settings(settings_file : str = None):
     """Loads the settings object for the first time.
     
-    Order of operations is to look into defaults.SETTINGS, and then
-    look through the command line arguments to determine whether the user has
-    overridden any settings using --KEY=VALUE.
+    Order of operations is:
+    - If settings_file is given, load it.
+    - Otherwise, get the settings from defaults.SETTINGS
+    - Look through the command line arguments to determine whether the user has
+      overridden any settings using --KEY=VALUE.
     """
     global SETTINGS
     if SETTINGS is not None:
         return
     import os
     import sys
-    SETTINGS = copy.deepcopy(defaults.SETTINGS)
+    if settings_file is not None:
+        from .config import load_config_recursive
+        import os
+        print("**************************************************************")
+        print("Loading global settings from",settings_file)
+        print("**************************************************************")
+        SETTINGS = load_config_recursive(os.path.abspath(settings_file))
+    else:
+        from ..knowledge import defaults
+        SETTINGS = copy.deepcopy(defaults.SETTINGS)
     for arg in sys.argv:
         if arg.startswith('--'):
             k,v = arg.split('=',1)
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 64d6afadc..a30a833be 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -2,10 +2,16 @@
 import sys
 
 if __name__=='__main__':
+    #check for settings override
+    for arg in sys.argv[1:]:
+        if arg.startswith('--settings='):
+            settings.load_settings(arg[11:])
+            break
+    #get launch file
     launch_file = None
     for arg in sys.argv[1:]:
         if arg.startswith('--run='):
-            launch_file = arg[9:]
+            launch_file = arg[6:]
             break
         elif not arg.startswith('--'):
             launch_file = arg
@@ -13,8 +19,8 @@
     if launch_file is None:
         runconfig = settings.get('run',None)
         if runconfig is None:
-            print("Usage: python3 [--key1=value1 --key2=value2] LAUNCH_FILE.yaml")
-            print("  Current settings are found in knowledge/defaults/current.yaml")
+            print("Usage: python3 [--key1=value1 --key2=value2] [--settings=SETTINGS_OVERRIDE.yaml] LAUNCH_FILE.yaml")
+            print("  Default settings are found in knowledge/defaults/current.yaml")
             exit(1)
         else:
             print("Using default run configuration in knowledge/defaults/current.yaml")