GeoSketch

For more, see Feature Codes

To activate: Identify dialog toolbar, PVA Explorer

Create simple drawing files depicting building / structure footprints. Draw sketches to scale, label and render with various colors, line widths, and hatch (shading) patterns. Additionally, GeoSketch calculates and displays square footage. Sketch files are then linked to map features and are accessable through either the Identify tool or PVA Explorer.

To use:

Setup Sketch:

1. Activate GeoSketch. In the Setup Sketch dialog that appears, the default File Path is    displayed. This is where the sketch will be saved. The path can be changed.  

2. The Sketch Filename can be entered or changed. Note: Do not include the file extension when entering the sketch filename.

3. The bulleted numbers 20, 30,...1000, are scale factors. Note that as different scale factors are chosen, lengths (in feet) along the top and right side of the window change. Choose a scale factor that corresponds the size structure to be sketched.  Typically, larger structures or multiple structures will require a larger scale factor.

4.  In the Setup Sketch dialog you can also select Add Scale to include a scale bar in the sketch.

5. Once you have verified the correct file path and sketch filename and have chosen a scale factor, click the OK button.

Configure a Polygon to represent the structure footprint:

1. To begin drawing with a polygon, pick Polygon from the tool bar or Draw menu. The Polygon Properties window opens.

2. Several options are available here to determine how the polygon appears when drawn:

• Select a line Color, Linetype (Solid, Dashed, or Dot) and line Width.

• Select a Fill Type: For an outline only, select Transparent; or the polygon can be shaded or hatched by selecting another pattern. Select a Fill Color.

• Select the appropriate structure type to be sketched under Feature Name.

Note: Each structure type has a default set of Color, Width, Linetype, and Fill Type attributes. These settings can be modified each time a Feture Name is selected.  

• In the Add Area field, an additional numeric value can be added to the calculated area of a drawn structure footprint. For example, enter 100 in the Add Area field. If GeoSync calculates a sketch area to be 1000, it will add the Add Area value of 100 and display 1100 as the total square footage.

• The Multiplier determines if and by what factor a polygon's area will be multiplied.  For instance, if Living Area(2.0), (two story house), is chosen, the Multiplier field defaults to a 2. In this example, when a polygon is drawn, the calculated area is doubled to account for the second floor.

• Enter a value in the Initial field to be included as a label on a drawn polygon. Each Feature Name has a default Initial.

• Under Precision, choose whether the drawing tool will allow lines to be drawn to the nearest Foot (1 Ft), Half Foot (.5 Ft), or Tenth of a Foot (.1 Ft).

• Under Options are check boxes for three options:  

• Add Initial labels the polygon with whatever value occupies the Initial field, above.

• Auto Label places lengths on the polygon line segments.

• Add Labels can be used when editing an existing feature. See Editing  Features for more on adding labels.

3. Select OK to begin Drawing. The pointer becomes a pencil.

Draw the Polygon:

1. Click to begin drawing.

2. Move the pointer to draw the line. Notice length of the line is reflected in a field along the bottom edge of the Sketch window.

3. Click at each desired corner (a Vertex In GeoSync, a point that joins two line segments of a either a line or polygon feature. Plural: Vertices.).

4. An unwanted vertex can be removed, beginning with the most recently drawn, by right-clicking and selecting Undo Vertex.

5. To close the polygon (finish drawing a structure footprint) right-click and select Close Polygon.  When a polygon is closed, its area and perimeter are calculated and displayed in the draw window and under Sketch Features.

Other Options:

By checking the Manual Entry box (left side of Sketch screen) non-right angles can be drawn:

1. Select Polygon to draw.

2. Selcet a beginning point on the draw screen.

3. To Draw the line select Draw Angle.

4. In the Draw Angle field, enter Angle and Distance or Rise/Run.  Select Calculate.

5. Use the Direction field to choose which direction the line is to be drawn.

6. To draw the line click OK.  

Note: The Manual Entry method of drawing can be activated or deactivated at any point in the polygon drawing routine:

1.  For example, begin drawing a polygon using the standard on-sreen method (first method described above).

2. After drawing a line segment, check the Manual Entry box.

3.  Click Draw Angle.

4. Enter an angle and distance. Select OK.

5. Now uncheck the Manual Entry box. Continue drawing.