Anyone know of an app that does this?

[terravista]

Back in the 80's, before home computers were serious tools, there was a calculator used by draftsman, builders and estimators etc that you could input the floor plan of a building (or room) using dimensions and compass directions to determine perimeters and areas.
For example in a very simple demo, you start with East 10 metres, South 10 metres, West 10 metres and "back home" and the result would be a 40 metre perimeter and an area of 100m2.
The ability was to go pretty much any shaped object with protrusions, indents and the like.
Does anyone know of an app that does this? Popular CAD systems handle it but you need to input files rather than start from scratch, or starting from scratch takes too much time.
Cheers
Ian

[jfella]

Sketchup?

http://www.sketchup.com/

[Steffo1]

You could also buy a programmable calculator & load a basic Surveying "Close" programme. This would also enable 45° & 60° entries as well.
Steve

[Trots]

You could try www.blocklayer.com it has a concrete calculator that might do what you are after.

[MrCruza]

There's a couple of apps that do that. My missus works in the Education Dept  managing maintenance and they use a couple. Can ask her if you want..

[Mace]

Magic Plan

http://www.sensopia.com/english/index.html

[terravista]

There's a couple of apps that do that. My missus works in the Education Dept  managing maintenance and they use a couple. Can ask her if you want..

Yes please.
I will look at the other suggestions but the more the merrier.
Cheers

[MrCruza]

Try Roomscan Pro.

[terravista]

Try Roomscan Pro.

Thank. Looks like a good system but not for what I need.
I get a floor plan of a block of units, warehouses etc. and to estimate the cost of construction (some total and some selected trades only) and need to work out the perimeters and areas of each floor level.
The architects who prepare the plans have all the tools to do this quickly and accurately, but it seems too difficult for them and getting a CAD systems is not feasible.
If they are a reasonably simple layout, all is fine, but the shapes current architects come up with are a nightmare.
Cheers

[GBC]

Are you on site measuring too or just off the plan?
If you are working off plans I'd recommend one of these
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/222210188589
Back in the 80's they were gear driven dial gauges but of course they are digital now.

You just set the size the plans are printed at and the scale, then roll around wherever shape you need to measure.

There is an iPad app where you take a photo of a corner an then keep turning clockwise taking photos of each offset. It will lay out the house or deck and then you add dimensions. Ok if you need to develop a plan when there is none, but probably not what you are after?

Finally, the new Leica distos are Bluetooth compatible and work with apps like my measures pro and their own apps.

Hope this helps.

The rollers are indispensable for measuring off plans.

[terravista]

Are you on site measuring too or just off the plan?

Thanks
I am using just using A2 size plans.
I have used a manual roller (curvimeter) for over 25 years and it works fine for the perimeter as long as the plans are to scale, but it can't do the areas.
Cheers
Ian

[Steffo1]

Thanks
I am using just using A2 size plans.
I have used a manual roller (curvimeter) for over 25 years and it works fine for the perimeter as long as the plans are to scale, but it can't do the areas.
Cheers
Ian

A good digital planometer wll though.

[GBC]

The one in the link I put up does areas too. Just not of arcs like a planimeter.

[BaseCamp]

Hey GBC - that scale pen looks the goods...

But just having learned of these tools existence from this mighty forum; and knowing nothing about these  devices; how carefully / accurately do you have to run the pen on the line on a plan for the thing to accurately work?

I have visions of me attempting to trace out a perimeter on a plan and  inadvertently weaving a bit  -along the line as I try....

(I have read the extended description on the ebay link, but it does not discuss this) ....

Cheers

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[GBC]

That'd be a direct reflection of just how much profit margin you have riding on the line being straight haha. They are really quite accurate. The old ones had tiny spiky wheels about 6mm diameter. The trick is to make sure the scale is accurate - never buggered that up before haha.
Bear in mind you'll have gross areas provided, along with grid dimensions and room sizes so it's not like you are going to take off a complete building with a roller. They are super fast for scaling off where the dumbarse architect has left detail out.
To be honest I don't use it that much these days.
Export the pdf to an iPad or other touch screen, hold a ruler against a known dimension and squeeze until the ratio fits and bobs your Aunty.
Either that or send it back to the child who stuffed it up and get them to dimension it properly.

I'm agitating on bigger jobs to get a vertical setout rod drawing with all the relevent rl's on it for easy accurate reference.