Area Measurement

The Area tool measures the area enclosed by a polygon you draw on the map. Click to place vertices around the boundary of a region, double-click to close the polygon, and SiteView calculates the spherical area and perimeter instantly.

Activating the Tool

Open the Measurements tab in the site detail floating panel and click the Area icon, or press A on your keyboard. The cursor changes to a crosshair, ready for you to start placing vertices.

Drawing the Polygon

Click on the map to place vertices around the boundary of the area you want to measure:

1. First click — places the first vertex
2. Subsequent clicks — add vertices to define the polygon boundary
3. Double-click — places the final vertex and closes the polygon automatically

As you place vertices, SiteView draws edges between them and displays a shaded polygon preview. The polygon closes automatically when you double-click, connecting the last vertex back to the first.

💡 Tip

Place vertices at each corner or change of direction along the boundary. For curved edges — such as a roundabout or a dam wall — use more closely spaced vertices to approximate the curve. The more vertices you use, the more accurately the polygon represents the actual boundary.

Results

Once the polygon is closed, the results panel displays:

Spherical Area Calculation

SiteView uses a spherical area calculation that accounts for the curvature of the earth. This is more accurate than a simple planar calculation, particularly for larger areas. For typical construction site measurements covering a few hundred metres, the difference between spherical and planar is minimal. For large sites spanning several kilometres, the spherical calculation provides a measurably more accurate result.

ℹ️ Did you know?

The area calculation is performed on the WGS84 ellipsoid surface. This means the result represents the true ground area as projected onto the earth's surface, not a flat 2D plan area. For most construction applications, the difference is negligible — but for large-scale earthworks or land parcels, it matters.

Display Units

The area is displayed in both square metres and hectares simultaneously. The results panel shows the primary value in the unit most appropriate for the size:

• Areas under 10,000 m2 emphasise the square metres value
• Areas of 10,000 m2 and above emphasise the hectares value

Both values are always visible regardless of the area size, so you can read whichever unit you prefer.

Practical Uses

• Building pad areas — measure the footprint of a proposed building or slab
• Lot areas — verify the area of a subdivision lot against the survey plan
• Landscaping — measure garden beds, paved areas, or turf zones for material estimates
• Earthworks extents — define the boundary of a cut or fill zone before running a volume calculation
• Site compound — measure the area allocated for site offices, laydown areas, and car parking

💡 Tip

Combine the Area tool with the Volume & Stockpile tool. Draw your area measurement first to verify the boundary covers the right zone, then use Volume with the same boundary to calculate the earthworks volume within it.

Editing After Placement

If you need to adjust a vertex after placing it but before completing the polygon, you can drag any vertex to reposition it. This lets you fine-tune the boundary without starting over.

Once the polygon is completed (double-clicked to close), the measurement is finalised. To remeasure, dismiss the results and draw a new polygon.

Saving the Measurement

After completing an area measurement, click Save to record it. Add a category (e.g., Earthworks, Structural, Landscaping), notes describing what the area represents, and photos for context. Saved area measurements appear in the Measurements tab list and can be toggled on the map.

What's Next?

• Volume & Stockpile — calculate volumes within a polygon boundary
• Distance & Bearing — measure lengths along a polyline
• Measurement Tools Overview — return to the full list of measurement tools