How many times have we stopped to think about how much distance there are between several points of a city, or how much we have traveled in a single day. Anyone may think that it is best to turn to Google Maps, but it is quite limited. Maps Measure allows us to very easily calculate the distance we travel, or the distance that separates different points on our route.
Google Maps has a problem, and that is that the distances we see on a map They do not usually correspond to what is later realityWhat seems close on a map can seem very far away in reality, and although it may seem unbelievable, there's no way to create a route in Google Maps that tells us the actual distance we would travel by following it. We can set a route between a starting point and a destination, but we don't have the option of adding the entire route we'll follow in a single morning, or so to speak, all the destinations we'll visit.
However, an application like Maps Measure It allows us to easily calculate the distance of a route, in which we only have to add all the places that we are going to visit throughout the day, or on the route that we are planning. But in addition to that, we can also select an area on the map, and have the application tell us how much that area occupies in square meters. And it is that, it is not the same to see Atocha on a screen, than to have to go through the station from the arrival of the AVE to the metro station.
Maps Measure is actually very simple, it just calculates the data we ask for, making use of the map scaleHowever, it's a feature we don't have in Google Maps, so it's one of those apps we can always have installed on our smartphone, or at least on our list of favorite apps.
Measure distances, areas and perimeters accurately
With a modern measuring app you can get distances, surfaces and perimeters marking points on the map or drawing freehand. To measure distance just place at least two points; to calculate area, you need three or more. In addition, you will see results converted to m, km, Millas, yards and more, and you'll be able to switch between standard, satellite and terrain map with search by autocomplete.
- quick edit: Drag markers to adjust the stroke and use undo to correct instantly.
- Closing polygons: By joining the last point with the first you will obtain the area and perimeter.
- Continuous drawing: “paint” type mode that calculates as you slide your finger.
- Geodetic accuracy: The calculations consider the curvature of the earth for greater precision.
Advanced features you may need
Beyond the basics, some reference tools add utilities that make a difference in fieldwork and planning. These are key features that are good to know and that complement very well Maps Measure:
- Save, name, and group measurements: create projects, edit them, and reload them whenever you need.
- Smart Marker Mode: precise pin placement mode for fine-tuning vertices in dense areas.
- GPS tracking/self-measurement: record perimeters by walking or driving around a boundary.
- Share with link: generates an automatic link to the area or route to send it to collaborators.
- Points of interest (POI): write down fences, stones, pasture boundaries or elements to avoid on the ground.
- External GPS support: use with antennas such as GARMIN GLO/GLO 2 for greater precision.
- Instant conversion: results in multiple units of length and area.
- Custom coefficients: applies factors to estimate fuel, Calories, time o agricultural inputs according to distance or area (for example, liters per hectare or minutes per kilometer).
- Advanced search: find places by name, city, country or coordinates.
Some applications offer modalities no ads o PRO, as well as a subscription to unlock features (such as unlimited coefficients and priority support). Activate the GPS to show your current location and start from there.
Tricks with Google Earth and other tracing apps
If you prefer desktop, in Google Earth You can measure in top-down view: select “Measure”, place points for a line or close the figure to calculate the area, edit by dragging vertices and change units from the settings. The tool also displays the elevation of the point under the cursor; keep in mind that in areas with relief or 3D buildings the precision may vary, so it is advisable to measure from top view.
On mobile phones, there are apps of free layout that allow you to draw with your finger, adjust the layout to the streets, watch unevenness of the route, save itineraries, and export them. Other popular alternatives in the ecosystem include solutions such as Planimeter GPS, AndMeasure, Smart Distance/Smart Measure PRO, Smart Tools, or Tool Box, with utility packages (level, compass, converters, etc.) to complement your measurements.
Recommended use cases
These tools are useful for farming (pastures, fencing, sowing, spraying), real estate (plots, roofs, building plots), construction (roads, works, estimates), landscaping y cartography/GIS. They also facilitate calculation in boat routes, Hiking, marathon or cycling, planning of travel, installation of solar and measurement of Sports tracks. Even managers and pilots who operate on fields can share areas and routes with teams and clients.
Google Play - Maps Measure. Once you start measuring distances, surfaces and perimeters with these functions, you will see how planning routes, estimating resources or delimiting land becomes fast, visual and accurate, both in the city and in the countryside.