Digitize an Area Using the Trace Tool

  1. Open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen.
    Note: To open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen, click Estimating > Earthwork > Manage Earthwork Estimates in the All Tasks pane. Click Open Existing Job. Then select the job you want to open, and click OK.
  2. Select the Area tab, if it is not already active.
  3. In the Active Layer field on the toolbar, click to select the layer for which you want to digitize an area.

    For example, if you want to digitize an existing building or area, select Existing. If you want to digitize a proposed area of something you are going to build, select Proposed.

  4. Click Trace to digitize an area consisting of curved lines, then press the tip of the stylus to the first point of the area and drag the tip over the entire area on the drawing until the area is completed.
    Note: The Auto Pan feature automatically shifts the field of view in the Area tab if you digitize a point on your plans that is not contained in the current field of view. This will only happen when you have magnified the Area tab. See Magnify the Area Tab for more information.
  5. Click Finished when you have digitized the area.

    If the area you digitized does not connect at the ends, the application automatically joins the ends to form an enclosed area.

  6. In the Area Properties popup, in the Name field, enter a name for the new area.
  7. Select the appropriate properties for the new area. For more information, see Area Properties.
  8. Click OK.
    Note: If you have digitized multiple areas, you can cycle through them by pressing [+] and [–].