topic Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow in Documentation

Best way to measure area not in shadow

Yvonne — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:36:52 GMT

What is the best way to measure the area of a space not in shadow? If we measure the area via 3D docs in plan, it doesn't account for area not in shadow but is covered.

For example highlighted in yellow:

Operating system used: Windows 11

Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow

CosminF — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:13:48 GMT

Hi,

The only workaround I see would be to manually get the fill of the shadow, move it on the right by a fixed value, do a fill for the area under the roof excluding the building, and afterwards substracting the second fill from the first one.
Basically doing this manually - i know it can be frustrating, if the building changes slightly you need to redo this.

I was also thinking if you maybe could use zones for this (to have them automatically updateable) but I do not know of a 3D "shadow object" that you can use to substract with.

Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow

Ricardo Lopez — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:20:24 GMT

Hi @Yvonne

Try to draw/model with the Morph tool in a 3D view, then you could label it in a 3D Document or a floor plan view with Autotext> General parameters> Area.

It could even be scheduled if you want.

Regards.

Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow

Yvonne — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:30:05 GMT

Hi Ricardo,

Thanks for the suggestion. Using the morph would be an approximate area right? because it won't be exact?

Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow

Ricardo Lopez — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:25:06 GMT

Hi @Yvonne

Let's try a better workaround:

In a 3D view get an axonometry top view from 3D Projection Settings.

Then create a new 3D style so the Shadow Contours option is checked, as seen on the attached image.

Use the 2d Marquee tool and Copy.

Now Paste it over your floor plan view.

You will get vector contour lines for shadows; those should be more exact so you can draw a polyline or a fill to get your area.

Re: Best way to measure area not in shadow

jl_lt — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:57:22 GMT

A very nice workaround if a bit on the manual side, but hey, we have to do something at some point right?