How to Use the Drawing & Measurement Tools
Land Portal includes built-in drawing and measurement tools that make it easy to measure distances, calculate acreage, and plan potential subdivides directly on the map.
These tools are especially useful when evaluating road frontage, estimating setbacks, or sketching parcel layouts before talking with a surveyor or realtor.
Accessing the Drawing Tools
Once you open a property in Land Portal, look to the right side of the map to find the drawing and measurement tools. There are two primary tools available:
- Distance Measurement Tool – Used for measuring property boundaries, checking road frontage, estimating setbacks, measuring distances across roads or between points.
- Area/Subdivide Tool – Used for drawing parcel shapes and calculating acreage.
How to Measure Distance
- Open a property on the map
- Select the Distance Measurement Tool
- Click your starting point on the map & drag the curser to the desired length
- Press Enter to finish the measurement
As you place points, Land Portal displays the measurement in real time so you can quickly verify distances.
Using the Area & Subdivide Tool
The Area/Subdivide Tool allows you to draw custom parcel shapes while automatically calculating acreage as you move around the property.
This is especially useful for:
- Planning subdivides
- Creating conceptual parcel layouts
- Splitting road frontage evenly
- Estimating acreage before surveying
How It Works
- Select the Area/Subdivide Tool
- Click points around the property to draw a shape
- Click Enter to save the shape
- Watch the acreage update live as you move your cursor
- Continue adjusting/adding more until you reach your desired acreage
One of the biggest advantages of this tool is the live acreage display, which updates in real time while drawing. This allows you to create accurate parcel layouts for planning subdivides without guessing.
Saving or Sharing Your Layout
After creating your parcel layout, you can:
- Take a screenshot
- Share the layout with a surveyor
- Send concepts to a realtor
- Discuss subdivide ideas with buyers or partners
The drawing tools provide a fast way to visualize a subdivide concept before investing in formal survey work.
Tips for Best Results
- Zoom in before drawing for more accurate measurements
- Use the live acreage display to fine-tune parcel size
- Combine both tools together for better planning
- Measure road frontage before splitting to keep lots consistent
Final Thoughts
The drawing and measurement tools in Land Portal are designed to make property analysis faster and easier. Whether you're checking road frontage, estimating acreage, or planning a future subdivide, these tools give you real-time visual feedback directly on the map.
By combining distance measurements with live acreage calculations, you can quickly test different parcel layouts, compare lot sizes, and create rough concepts before moving into formal surveying or development planning.
Open a property in Land Portal and start experimenting with the drawing tools to see how quickly you can measure, map, and visualize your next deal.