How to measure area, perimeter, and estimated volume

Draw a polygon to calculate area, perimeter, and optionally estimate cubic yardage at a given depth.

Written by Raymond Fuorry
March 31, 2026

The Area & Perimeter tool draws a polygon on the map and calculates its area, perimeter, and optionally an estimated volume. The estimated volume feature makes this one of the most powerful hidden tools in TraceAir.

How to use Area & Perimeter

To measure area and perimeter, follow these steps:

1. Click Measure in the top navigation bar, then select Area & Perimeter.
2. Click on the map to define the corners of a polygon.
3. Complete the polygon to see the results.

The tool displays area in acres and square feet, and perimeter in linear feet.

After drawing, you can edit the polygon by dragging nodes to reposition them, the same as the Distance & Slope tool. You can also change the color and transparency using the hover menu.

Availability: All scan tiers.

How to use estimated volume

The estimated volume toggle is the standout feature of this tool. When enabled:

1. Draw your polygon.
2. Toggle on Estimated Volume.
3. Enter a depth value in feet (decimal values like 1.5 are accepted).
4. The tool calculates the total cubic yardage of material that would be added or removed if the entire selected area were raised or lowered by that amount.

Example: A project has 38,000 cubic yards of excess dirt from Cut/Fill Balance. The team uses Area & Perimeter to select a section of lots, enters a depth of 2 feet, and the tool calculates that the area could absorb 7,000 cubic yards if raised by 2 feet. This helps them find on-site placement for excess material instead of expensive off-site removal.

Pin feature

Click the Pin icon to lock a Measurement or Plan & Track tool on the map. Pinned measurements remain visible while you create additional measurements. Multiple pinned measurements can coexist on screen. Pinned measurements appear in a single pop-up window. You can fold(close) and unfold(open) individual measurement tools, and save all active tools as an Exhibit.

Frequently asked questions

What units are displayed?

Area is shown in acres and square feet. Perimeter is shown in linear feet. Estimated volume is shown in cubic yards.

Can I use estimated volume on Silver scans?

Yes. The Area & Perimeter tool, including estimated volume, is available on all scan tiers.

Need help?

If you have questions about area and perimeter measurements, reach out to your TraceAir Customer Success Specialist or start a conversation with us using the chat icon below.