How to Use Custom Surface Comparison


Measuring material on uneven or stepped ground, stored in bins, stacked against benches, or in overlapping piles can require more customization than the interpolated base used by the Smart Volume

Custom Surface Comparison allows for precise adjustment of individual vertex points that make up the outline of a volume measurement. Adjusting the position and elevation of the vertices allows the measurement base to reflect the material in the stockpile accurately.

How to customize the base of a stockpile measurement 

From the measurement toolbar, select Polygon

Select from the options in the dropdown menu. In this case, select Stockpile.

Measurement Polygon Tool.png

Outline your stockpile or use the Magic Polygon tool to draw a polygon boundary automatically.

Draw Polygon.png

Select the surface comparison you want to make. In this case, choose Smart Volume for the From or To Surface in the dropdown menus. 

Surface Comparison Smart Volume.png

Change measurement units

Select the most appropriate measurement unit for distance, area, volume, and density from the dropdown menu. This makes it easy to move between imperial and metric units as needed and create reports in your preferred units.

Change Measurement Units Polygon.png

How to edit the custom base

Move a single point

Surface Comparison Edit Single Point.png

Click on the point you want to edit. You can drag the point to a new location, or edit the northing, easting, elevation, and offset of the point.

Edit Polygon Point.pngEdit Point Location Using Northing and Easting.png

Move multiple points

Hold the shift key and click and drag a box around the points you want to edit.

Surface Comparison Custom Base Edit Multiple.png

Shift the entire polygon

You can also move the entire polygon by clicking the icon in the center of the polygon and dragging it to the new location.

Surface Comparison Custom Base Edit Entire Shape.png

Click SAVE to recalculate the volume.


I still can't do it!

We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.

If you're stuck, you can connect with our support team by clicking the support button on the top right corner of your user portal.

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