Use analysis tools

Imagery may contain information that can be analyzed to help accomplish an image-based task. The analysis tools contain features to highlight areas of interest through markup, labeling, and measurement.

Markup tools

The markup tools allow you to create simple graphics on top of imagery using text and shape elements to call attention to areas of interest.

Create markup

To create markup, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Tools menu in the canvas.
2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Mark Up.
3. Choose a geometry.
   • Point—Click the map to drop a point.
   • Line—Click the map to draw a line segment. Double-click to complete the line.
   • Rectangle—Click and drag the map to draw a rectangle.
   • Polygon—Click the map to draw at least three segments. Double-click to complete the polygon.
   • Text label—Type text in the input box and click the map to drop a label.

   Note:

   You can create markup in the Map Focus and Image Focus panels.

4. Prior to drawing markup, in Styling Properties, customize markup with the following options:
   • Outline
   • Fill
   • Outline Width
   • Transparency
   • Font Color (Text label only)
   • Font Size (Text label only)

To edit or delete an existing markup, open the Mark Up tool click directly on the corresponding markup graphic on the image. To delete all markup, click the Clear drawn graphics button. All graphics will be deleted.

Note:

You can save markup as a feature collection when an Excalibur project is created or saved. For more information, see Save markup to a project.

Count tool

The Count tool allows you to count objects in your imagery manually by marking each object with a graphic. The Count tool places a point graphics where you clicked on your imagery and keeps a total count associated with each point graphic as it is added on top of the imagery.

To count objects within your imagery, follow these steps:

1. Click the Tools menu in the canvas view.
2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Count.
3. In Style Properties, you can change the following properties of the point graphic that will be created in the Map Focus Panel:
   • Fill Color
   • Outline Color
   • Size
   • Style
4. In Count Options, you can:
   • Start Count At - the number that the count will begin at once a count is started (1-100).
   • Set Count Increment - the increment that the count will increase after the first count graphic is added (1-10).

   For example, if you Start Count At: 2 and Set Count Increment: 2 the following pattern would be expected: 2, 4, 6, 8, ….

5. Click Reset to Default to reset the Style Properties and Count Options and to clear any current count graphics in the Map Focus Panel.
6. Once the Style Properties and Count Options are set, click Start Count to begin counting in the Map Focus Panel.
7. Click in the Map Focus Panel to create a count graphic at that location. Continue clicking to add additional count graphics. The Count Total updates based on the count start and increment.
8. Once count graphics are added on the map, you can:
   • Undo Last Count - remove the last count graphic that was places in the Map Focus Panel. You can continue to use this to undo action for a sequential removal of count graphics.
   • Clear Count - removes all count graphics from the Map Focus Panel.
9. Click Stop Count when the count workflow is complete.

Note:

You can change the Set Count Increment when an active count has been stopped.

Measurements

Measuring ground features in imagery, called image mensuration, is an important function in many image interpretation or feature compilation applications. The Measure tool allows you to measure horizontal and vertical distances, areas, and feature locations on an image in map and image space. The Measure tool also allows you to conduct 3D measurements on your imagery in the Image Focus Panel. The measurement tool options available will depend on the metadata and capabilities set on the web layer.

To calculate measurements in the map focus and image focus views, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Tools menu in the canvas.
2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Measurements.
3. Choose the measurements type.
   • Map Measurements - Can only be performed in the Map Focus Panel. Distance and Area are the only two measurements available to perform.
   • Image Measurements - Can only be performed in the Image Focus Panel. The available Image Measurements will be based on information from the image metadata and capabilities on the image service.
4. Click on a desired measurement to perform.
5. From the drop-down list, choose the units to display.

   Note:

   The available units to display will be based on the measurement type selected. Point and centroid measurements will automatically generate unit results.

6. Click the map or image to create a measurement.

   The Measurement Results List will automatically populate based on the units selected and the underlying sensor model and information from the image service.

7. Optionally, you can:
   • Hide measurement on map - turns the visibility of the measurement off.
   • Hide label on map - turns the visibility of the measurement label off.
   • Copy to clipboard - copies the results to the clipboard.
   • Clear from list - removes the measurement from the map and the Measurements Results list.
8. If the measurement conducted was a Distance measurement type with multiple vertices, the segments will appear in the Measurement Results list where information and options for each segment can be viewed and toggled.
9. Click Clear All to remove all measurements from the Map Focus Panel and the Measurements Results list.