Measuring and Analyzing your data
After processing is complete you can open your data product. Click the Project tab in the upper navigation bar to open the Project Page.
Click on the tile of the project you want to view and analyze -- this will bring you to the Project Detail page. From the Project Detail page, click on the preview of your data product to open it.
When you open your data product, the default view will show the 2D Orthomosaic view. When the 2D Orthomosaic is open you’ll see Measurement Tools in the upper right, and View Tools in the lower right. The right sidebar has controls that allow you to select between 2D and 3D views, and select and blend together the different 2D and 3D data product layers.
The View Tools in the lower right of the map allow you to interact with your 2D or 3D data product. Click the 3D button to switch between a 2D or 3D perspective. Note that this does not change the data product you’re viewing from a 2D orthomosaic to a 3D model -- that’s done with the 2D and 3D tabs in the sidebar -- but it does let you change your viewing perspective of the current data product.
You can left click and drag within the main orthomosaic view to move the map within the window, or right click and drag to rotate and tilt the current data product. If you don’t have a right button to click, you can do the same rotation and tilt by holding down the Control key while you left-click and drag.
Use the Measurement Tools in the upper right of the main image to add measurements to your 2D or 3D data product. The Draw Line lets you measure a straight line. The Draw Polygon tool lets you draw an enclosed shape, and the Draw Point lets you designate a specific location within a data product.
To measure a straight line, first select the Draw Line tool. Click the location where you want the measurement to begin, then double click where you want the measurement to end. When you do this, Skyward Mapping & Modeling will open a Distance Measurement data field in the right sidebar for this line tool. Here you can name the tool, change its color, and view its 2D, 3D, and elevation measurements. The controls in the upper right of the Distance Measurement area allow you to center the measurement tool in the main window, or delete the line measurement tool.
To measure the area of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space, you can use the Polygon tool. Start by selecting the Draw Polygon tool. Click the location you want to use as the starting point for your polygon, then click successive points to define the polygon you want to measure. Make sure you click back on the starting point to close and define your polygon.
You can add multiple line and polygon measurements in a single data product.
To use the volumetrics tool, click on the cube icon in the Measurement Tools section.
After selecting the volumetrics tool, draw a polygon around the area you want to measure.
Give your polygon a name and and description. Then to calculate the volume click on the Calculate Volume button.
Once the volume has been calculated you can use the different Base Surface settings to get a more accurate volume measurement.
- Triangulated: Selected by default. Connects all the vertices and triangulates the volume above and below the base surface. Recommended option when the entire boundary of the stockpile is visible and the surface is relatively flat.
- Fit Plane: Fits a plane to the vertices, so that all vertices are at the minimum distance from the base surface. Recommended option when the entire boundary of the stockpile is visible and the base surface is a hard surface, a slope or flat with the same altitude.
- Align with Average Altitude: The base surface is parallel to the XY plane with altitude at the average altitude of all vertices.
- Align with Lowest Point: The base surface is parallel to the XY plane with altitude at the lowest altitude of all vertices. Recommended option when part of he boundary is not visible, for example the stockpile is partially surrounded by walls.
- Align with Highest Point: The base surface is parallel to the XY plane with altitude at the highest altitude of all vertices. Recommended option when the desired computation is the fill volume of a bunker, a pool, a pond, etc.
- Custom Altitude [units]: The base surface is parallel to the XY plane with altitude at a custom altitude. Recommended option when the stockpile is surrounded by walls and only part or even no boundary is visible, but the altitude of the flat base surface is known.