How to Use the Measure Tool

Learn how to use the Map Room’s Measure Tool, which helps you identify geographic coordinates, path lengths, and area sizes at the click of a button. This tool is available for all SparkMap users.

Identify Geographic Coordinates

Measure Paths

Measure Areas

1 – Identify Geographic Coordinates

To find the measure tool, click the “Tools” tab in the Map Room and click the Measure Tools menu option (Figure 1).

A SparkMap visitor clicks the tool tab in the left menu, then selects Measure Tools from the tool list. — *Figure 1 –* Finding the Measure Tools

The Measure Tools Menu will now appear.

To identify geographic coordinates on your map, select the “Geographic Coordinates” menu option. (Figure 2).

A SparkMap visitor selects the Geographic Coordinates option in the Measure Tools menu. — *Figure 2 – Geographic Coordinates Menu Option in Map Room’s Measure Tool*

Click on the area of your map for which you wish to acquire geographic coordinates.

Information about the point’s coordinates will populate under the Measure Tools menu (Figure 3). This information includes the point’s latitude, longitude, UTM zone, and elevation.

A SparkMap visitor clicks a location on a map to view its latitude, longitude, UTM zone, and elevation. — *Figure 3 – Geographic Coordinates Results using Measure Tool*

2 – Measure Paths

To measure paths, select the “Measure Path” menu option (Figure 4).

A SparkMap visitor selects the Measure Path option in the Measure Tools menu. — *Figure 4 – Measure Path Menu Option in Map Room’s Measure Tool*

Click a point on the map to start drawing your path. Continue to draw your path by clicking points on the map. When you have finished drawing your path, double-click to stop drawing. (Figure 4).

To edit your path, click the midpoint of a line to add a new point and drag any of your previously selected points. Right-click a point to remove it.

A SparkMap visitor draws a path on a map. — *Figure 5 – Path drawn using Measure Tool*

Scroll down under the Measure Tools menu to see your path’s distance, elevation, and slope (Figure 6).

The Measure Tools menu displays the distance, elevation, and slope of a path. — *Figure 6 – Results of Path Measured using Measure Tool*

3 – Measure Map Areas

To measure areas, select the “Measure Area” menu option (Figure 7).

A SparkMap visitor selects the Measure Area option in the Measure Tools menu. — *Figure 7 – Measure Area Menu Option in Map Room’s Measure Tool*

Click a point on the map to start drawing an area. When you’re finished, double-click on the map to complete the area.

Click and drag the corners of the area to reshape it or click the midpoint of a line to add a new point. Right-click a point to remove it. (Figure 8).

A SparkMap visitor draws a triangle shaped area on their map. — *Figure 8 – Area selected using Measure Tool*

Scroll down under the Measure Tools menu to see your the measurements for your shape’s area and perimeter (Figure 9).