Measure distances and areas
In this topic
- Open the Measure tool
- Measure a distance
- Measure an area
- Display coordinates for a point
- Pan the map while measuring
- Trigger interactive behaviors
- Close the Measure tool
You can measure distances and areas on your map using the Measure tool. The Measure tool allows you to draw a single-segment or multisegment line to measure a linear path, or a shape to measure a specific area. You can also use the Measure tool to find the coordinates of any point on the map.
You can also use the Measure tool to trigger interactive behaviors configured by the report author. Click the Trigger interactions button after measuring a distance or shape or finding the coordinates of a point on the map. Features that are intersected by the measurement graphic are selected, and configured interactive behaviors that are enabled for automatic interactions are triggered by the selection.
Open the Measure tool
If enabled by the report author, the Measure tool is available from the Tools menu on the map.
- From the Tools menu, choose Measure.
The Measure tool is displayed.
Measure a distance
Measure distances on the map by drawing a line to specify a linear path.
- In the Measure tool, click Distance
. - Click to create two or more points to draw a line. When you're finished drawing, click twice to complete the line.
The result of your distance measurement is displayed.
Note:
Depending on the distance and location of your measurement, the line you drew may be curved. This is because the Measure tool must take into account the natural curvature of the earth to calculate the shortest path between two points. The curve you see is called a geodesic curve. Lines and shapes drawn using geodesic curves more accurately represent length, direction, and position everywhere on the surface of the earth.
- The distance units used by default for the measurement result were specified by the report author. To change the distance units, choose a new unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
The result updates to reflect the new units.
- To measure another distance, click the map and draw a new line.
The last line you drew is removed from the map, and the measurement result is updated to reflect the new distance.
Measure an area
Measure areas on the map by drawing a shape to specify an area.
- In the Measure tool, click Area
. - Click to create three or more points to draw a shape. Click twice to complete the shape.
The result of your area measurement is displayed.
Note:
Depending on the distance and location of your measurement, the lines in the shape you drew may be curved. This is because the Measure tool must take into account the natural curvature of the earth to calculate the shortest path between two points. The curve you see is called a geodesic curve. Lines and shapes drawn using geodesic curves more accurately represent length, direction, and position everywhere on the surface of the earth.
- The units used by default for the measurement result were specified by the report author. To change the area units, choose a new unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
The result updates to reflect the new units.
- To measure another area, click the map and draw a new shape.
The last shape you drew is removed from the map, and the measurement result is updated.
Display coordinates for a point
Display longitude and latitude coordinates for a point on the map by clicking a specific location.
- In the Measure tool, click Location
. - Click the map at the location for which you want to get coordinates. To view the coordinates of another location, click a new location on the map.
The coordinates for the location you specified are displayed beside the small location icon
. As you move the pointer over the map while Location is selected, the coordinate location displayed beside the pointer icon
updates to reflect the current position of the pointer. - The units used by default for the location result were specified by the report author. To change the units, choose a new unit of measurement from the drop-down menu.
The results update to reflect the new units.
Pan the map while measuring
You may find that what you want to measure is not completely contained within the current extent of the map; for example, a street or parcel may extend beyond what is visible.
To move the map as you're measuring while still maintaining the cumulative total distance or area, click and drag to pan the map in the direction you want. Once you get the map to where you want it to be, resume measuring by clicking the map.
Trigger interactive behaviors
After measuring a distance or area or finding the coordinates of a point, you can trigger interactive behaviors configured by the report author.
Note:
The option to trigger configured interactions is only available if the Trigger interactions tool was enabled by the report author. For more information, see Configure map settings and tools.
- Measure a distance or area or find the coordinates of a point.
- Click Trigger interactions.
Features intersected by the measurement graphic are selected.
Only the features in layers for which on-selection interactive behaviors were configured are selected.
Based on the selection, configured interactive behaviors that are enabled for automatic interactions are triggered.
Close the Measure tool
You can close the Measure tool by clicking the Close button on the tool. When you close the tool, all measurement graphics are cleared from the map.