The Groundplan length tool helps calculate metres, square metres, volume and pitch on plans or Google Map images, enabling accurate material and labour estimates ahead of a site visit. These appear in the bill of materials on the quantities tab.
Related Articles: Length labelling | Adding parts and labour to measurements
Add a new length measurement
Within a stage click +length
Complete the required details
Select the measurement unit or add a pitch degree
Click create, if additional parts and labour are required, click create & add more parts
Using the length tool to begin measuring
To measure a length, set the plan scale.
On the plan, click to begin a length
Double click to complete
📝Navigation hints:
Click once to change direction
Click, hold and drag to pan around the Plan
Hold SHIFT to hold in 15-degree increments
Hold CTRL / Command⌘ and press Z to undo the last point
Adding drops or wastage to lengths
Additional allowances for lengths may be necessary beyond the true measured value drawn on the plan. The drop function allows additional to be added to the length total.
Click on the length
Click drop
Add the extra allowance, remove if no drop is required
Draw the length on the plan
⚠️Warning: Drops are remembered. Subsequent runs will include the same added length unless this is reset.
In the stage, added drops are indicated by a symbol followed by the specific amount.
To edit a drop
Drops can be added while creating a length or after it is drawn.
Click on a drawn length
Click drop
Either add total drop allowance or remove a drop
Click save, the total will update in the stage
Drawing modes
Square drawing mode
After a length has been created, choose square drawing mode to draw rectangles and squares.
Click freeform then click square
Click once to begin
Move to the opposite side corner and click once to complete
Curve drawing mode
After a length has been created, choose curve drawing mode to draw curves.
Click curve
Click once to begin
Click once along the curve, close to the apex / highest point for best results
Click at the end of the curve
Click the curve button again to return to freeform or click the last point to complete
📝When curved mode is enabled, it will not dis-engage until the button is clicked again.
To create curves and straight lines in the same length run
In freeform mode, click at the beginning of the curve
Press Q
Click once along the curve, close to the apex / highest point for best results
Continue on or click the last point to complete
📝When the curve is complete, freeform mode will automatically engage.
To transform the last straight segment into a curve
In freeform mode, click the point at the beginning of the curve
Click at the end of the curve
Press W and move the cursor back to the apex / highest point of the curve and click once
Continue on or click the last point to complete
📝When the curve is complete, freeform mode will automatically engage.
How to edit an existing length
📝The settings modal remains open during editing and requires a click to close once editing is complete.
Press ESC, zoom in and click the length
Click settings to:
Edit the style: line colour, line style and line width changing all lengths associated with this measurement
Add or edit parts & pettings or labour
Click total to:
Enable / disable show totals
Edit text colour, text size and number format
Click label to
Add add a label to the length on the plan
Click advanced to edit the text size, colour and/or the frequency
Click actions to:
Click measurement actions to:
Hide this measurement from the plan
Select all of the measurements
Rename
Adjust the measurement value
Add or edit parts & settings and labour
Erase all, removing all lengths from the plan
Delete the measurement from the whole project permanently
Adjusting length totals
⚠️Warning: Adjusting totals will lock the value.
Adding or removing lengths after adjusting the plan or project totals will not be reflected in the totals. Editing individual lengths will not be shown when the value is adjusted.
To adjust measurement totals, click the individual run Total ( * ), click the plan total ( * ) or project total (^)
Enter new value in number form (e.g.
3) or via a formula (e.g.2*10)Click save
To remove an adjusted total, click the adjusted total and clear the value
Please note: entering 0 will give an adjusted total of 0
📝Note: The asterisk (*) on the individual run means that the total is adjusted. The hat (^) on the measurement total means it contains an adjusted length/s.
⚠️Warning: Adjusting totals will lock the value.
As seen above, adding additional lengths after adjusting the plan or project totals will not be reflected in the totals.
Unit of measure and supported references
There are different options for unit of measure when creating lengths.
Measurement Unit of Measure (UoM) |
| Part Supported References |
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Groundplan uses simple Excel-type formula to calculate parts and Labour. The formula follows the PMDAS Rule: Parentheses (brackets) first followed by multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction. Calculations are prioritised within the brackets. More detailed information about formulas with examples are provided in our article using formulas in Groundplan.
Each formula must contain a supported reference/s to be accepted and relate directly to elements on the plan.
The below image displays how the main supported references correspond to a plan:
What else can the length tool be used for?
Measuring square metres / square feet of walls
Measuring the cubic metres / cubic feet of foundations
Showing dimensions on the plan using show totals
Labelling stormwater, sewer or gas lines
Adding walls / boundaries to help create a new floor / construction plan.
Draw over items on hand-drawn plans (Figure A) and using the eraser tool to assist
Creating asbuilt / ascon / aslaid plans using the length labelling tool to assist
Showing wall heights or types on the plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a way to show the total of a length on the plan?
Is there a way to show the total of a length on the plan?
Yes.
Click show total in the style section when creating a new measurement.
Alternatively, within an existing measurement, head to settings then click total to adjust the settings. Number formats include metric (mm, cm, m) and imperial (in, ft).
Show totals only show run totals. Segment totals are not displayed.
Below image explanation:
Point A - Show totals will only show the run total, not segment totals.
Point B - To display segment totals on the plan, use the ruler tool or text tool.
How can I measure the same item across the project instead of creating a new one each time?
How can I measure the same item across the project instead of creating a new one each time?
Selecting link from worksheet allows an existing stage to be selected and used to create one project total for the measurement.
To combine marked-up stages, please use the transfer tool. This moves measurement totals from one stage or one measurement to another.
I need to add a junction box at the start and finish of each underground cable. How can I work out the total number of junction boxes I need?
I need to add a junction box at the start and finish of each underground cable. How can I work out the total number of junction boxes I need?
Yes.
Add a part of junction inside the measurement and use the formula count*2 and unit of measure as ea. This formula takes the count (runs) measured on the plan, multiplies them by two and calculates the junction boxes required for the measurement.
I want to measure a trench for one of my cables and work out the volume. Can this be done?
I want to measure a trench for one of my cables and work out the volume. Can this be done?
Yes.
Click measurement actions then select parts and settings
Click +part and select part
Populate the description with trench
Adjust the part UoM to m3
Use the formula
Len *( depth * width ). This formula equates to length multiplied by depth and width to calculate the trench volume.Click save
What is the difference between the drop/wastage setting and adjusting totals?
What is the difference between the drop/wastage setting and adjusting totals?
The Drop / Wastage value can only be applied to specific runs and needs a length measurement to apply it to. The adjustment can be made on individual runs, total length measurement or plan totals when there are no measurements on the plan.
⚠️Warning: The adjusted value ignores the actual measurement and locks the value that has been defined at that point in time. Adding or deleting runs will not change an adjusted total.
You may look at using formula within the measurement or part if the same drop or wastage is to apply to all runs within a measurement.