Measurement Tool

icon 2DDistance The Measurement Tool allows for measurements directly in the VC Map. Clicking the depicted icon in the toolbox activates the measurement tool. The selection arrow next to the icon opens all available measurement options in the app.

image measurementToolToolbox
Figure 1. Activate Measurement Tool
The measurement tool can be made available in the oblique, 2D, and 3D maps. The options vary depending on the app configuration and the map in which the measurement tool is used.

Measurement objects or the coordinates of the measurement objects (point, line, polygon) are projected into the local coordinate system of the application according to the map used (oblique, 2D, 3D), and the measurement value is output according to this coordinate system:

A
Figure 2. Measurement calculation
B
Figure 3. Measurement result
All options of the measurement tool provide the result as a measurement value based on the local coordinate system of the map, regardless of the global coordinate system used in the viewer.

Conduct Measurements

The measurement mode is active when the respective measurement option is activated, recognizable by the change of the mouse cursor from the selection arrow to the editing pen icon edit. Clicking on the map starts the measurement or continues a measurement that has already been started. Measurements can be completed by double-clicking at the endpoint. A new measurement is started using the NEW button.

icon workspace plus adds the measurement to My Workspace, so it can be recalled, edited, or removed at a later time. This also makes it possible to create several measurements in one map. Further information on this can be found at: Interaction with My Workspace.

Select measurements

Individual objects can be selected by clicking on the measurement geometry. Multiple selection is also possible by pressing "Ctrl" on the keyboard.

Subsequently pressing "Del" on the keyboard removes a selected measurement from the view or from My Workspace.

Removed objects cannot be restored!

Additionally, individual measurements can be directly edited, shown/hidden, or removed by right-clicking on the corresponding measurement object.

image measurementRightClick
Figure 4. Context Menu

Edit Vertices

The Edit Mode can be acitvated through the following methods:

  • Selecting the measurement geometry and clicking on icon editVertices Edit measurement in the tool window

  • Right-Clicking on the measurement geometry and icon editVertices Edit measurement via the context menu

  • Clicking on icon kebab next to the respective measurement in My Workspace, Edit item and icon editVertices Edit measurement in the tool window

The following actions are possible:

Action Description

Addition of a new vertex

A new vertex is created by clicking at the appropriate place on the geometry.

Movement of a vertex in all directions (horizontal / vertical)

The vertex is moved to the desired location by clicking and dragging with the left mouse button.

Removal of a vertex

The vertex is removed by clicking on it while holding “Shift”.+ (Important: the measurement must have been completed beforehand!).

Measurement Tool in the 2D Map

The following measurement tools are available in the 2D map:

  • icon 2D point Point Measurement

  • icon 2DDistance 2D Distance Measurement

  • icon 2DArea 2D Area Measurement

All output measurements refer to the local coordinate system of the application.

Point Measurement

icon 2D point The point measurement carried out in the 2D map outputs the 2D coordinates of the point to be measured in the tool window.

2D Distance Measurement

icon 2DDistance The following measurement modes are available for 2D distance measurement:

image measurementDirectDistance
Figure 5. Direct Distance between two Points
image measurementPolyline
Figure 6. Distance Measurement as a Polyline

In addition to the respective distance, the 2D coordinates of the vertices are listed in the tool window.

2D Area Measurement

icon 2DArea The result of the 2D area measurement provides the area and the perimeter of the drawn object, relative to the local coordinate system of the map.

image measurement2DArea
Figure 7. 2D Area Measurement

Measurement Tool in the 3D Map

The measurement tool of the 3D map includes the measurement tools of the 2D map and extends them with explicit 3D measurement tools that allow to include 3D objects in the measurement, or direct measurement of these respectively.

The following measurement tools are available in the 3D map:

  • icon 3D point 3D Point measurement

  • icon 2DDistance 2D Distance measurement

  • icon 2D height 2D Area measurement

  • icon 3DDistance 3D Distance measurement

  • icon 3DArea 3D Area measurement

  • icon 3DHeight 3D Height measurement

Using 2D Measurement Tools in the 3D Map

The description of the Measurement tool in the 2D map applies, with the note that in the 3D map, the 2D measurements always follow the terrain, but the result is ALWAYS related to the local coordinate system of the application.

3D Point Measurement

icon 3D point The point measurement carried out in the 3D map outputs the 3D coordinates of the point to be measured in the tool window.

3D Distance Measurement

icon 3DDistance The 3D distance measurement allows for precise capture of distances that are not only on the terrain, but also take into account three-dimensional structures such as buildings or other 3D objects.

image measurement3DDistance
Figure 8. 3D Distance Measurement

In addition to the respective distance, the 3D coordinates of the vertices are listed in the tool window.

3D Area Measurement

icon 3DArea The 3D area measurement allows for the measurement of diagonal or vertical surfaces and their circumference.

image measurement3DArea
Figure 9. 3D Area Measurement

3D Height Measurement

icon 3DHeight The 3D height measurement allows for the exact measurement of a vertical distance, including the parameters of the right-angled triangle resulting from the measurement.

image measurement3DHeight
Figure 10. 3D Height Measurement

Measurement Tool in the Oblique Map

All output measurements refer to the local coordinate system of the application.

Measurements in the oblique map only provide correct results if the individual measuring points are set at ground level.

The following measurement tools are available in the oblique map:

2D Point Measurement

icon 2D point The description of the 2D Point Measurement in the 2D Map applies.

2D Distance Measurement

icon 2DDistance The description of the 2D Distance Measurement in the 2D Map applies.

2D Height Measurement

icon 2D height The 2D height measurement in the oblique map allows for the precise measurement of a vertical distance. The first click must be set on the terrain, and the second one vertically above it.

In the oblique map, a terrain model is required for vertical distance measurement. If this is not available, the given measurements can only be interpreted as estimates.

Interaction with My Workspace

Each measurement added to My Workspace is listed there in the Measurements section.

Using the icon overflow menu at the end of each entry, it is possible to

  • Edit the measurement.

  • Rename the measurement.

  • Zoom to the extent of the measurement.

  • Remove the measurement from My Workspace.