SDX-Cloud: TRUE 3D Surface Measurement in Infomap

Summary

3D Surface Measurement adds an additional area result for polygon measurements in Infomap. It helps you measure the actual surface of the underlying model instead of relying only on the polygon boundary.

Introduction

You can use 3D Surface Measurement when you need a polygon-based area result that follows the real surface beneath the selected area. This is useful on uneven terrain or detailed topography where a boundary-based area value does not fully reflect the measured surface.

In Infomap, this result is available as an additional metric alongside the existing area values. It does not replace the standard area outputs. It is available for polygon measurements in SDX-CAD and Quick Measurements.

Prerequisites

• You have access to a project in SDX-Cloud.
• The project contains surface data that can be measured in Infomap.
• You can open either SDX-CAD or Quick Measurements in the project.
• You are creating a polygon measurement. This feature is not available for point or line measurements.
• The area you want to measure is covered by usable surface data.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Open the project in Infomap

1. Open SDX-Cloud.
2. Open the project that contains the surface you want to measure.
3. Open Infomap.
4. Choose either SDX-CAD or Quick Measurements, depending on where you want to work.

Expected result: You can view the area you want to measure and start a polygon measurement.

2. Create a polygon measurement

1. Start a new polygon measurement.
2. Place the polygon points around the surface you want to measure.
3. Close the polygon to finish the measurement.
4. Review the standard area values shown for the polygon.

Expected result: The polygon measurement is created and its measurement results are available.

3. Open the 3D Surface Measurement result

1. Open the measurement results for the polygon you created.
2. Start or open the 3D Surface Measurement result for that polygon.
3. Wait for the result to finish loading if the calculation takes a moment.

Expected result: The measurement shows an additional 3D surface value for the selected polygon.

4. Review and compare the result

1. Compare the 3D surface value with the other area values shown for the polygon.
2. Use the 3D surface value when you need the result to reflect the shape of the underlying surface.
3. If the result looks unexpectedly high or inconsistent, inspect the measured area for noisy, sparse, or incomplete data.

Expected result: You can interpret the 3D surface result and decide whether it fits your measurement use case.

Limits and notes

• 3D Surface Measurement is available only for polygon measurements.
• The feature adds an additional measurement result. It does not replace the existing area values.
• Calculation can take longer than the initial polygon measurement result.
• Surface quality affects the result. Very noisy or incomplete data can increase the measured surface value.
• Use the existing area outputs when you need a value based only on the polygon geometry rather than the underlying surface.

If the result looks wrong

• Compare the 3D surface value with the standard area values. On uneven ground the 3D value is higher than the flat area, but it must stay plausible for the shape.
• Check that usable surface data covers the whole polygon.
• Draw a smaller control polygon on an area that is well covered and compare the values.
• Repeat the measurement on another dataset in the project.

If you see triangles inside the polygon from some viewing angles, or the value stays implausible although the data looks complete, contact Sodex Support. Send the project link, the snapshot, the polygon, and a screenshot of both values.

Related articles

• Article: SDX-Cloud: SDX-CAD
• Article: SDX-Cloud: Infomap View - Hillshading