01
Distance
Place two points and keep the measured span visible on the drawing.
Distance & area · DWG and PDFDWG + PDF
Measure plans to scale without guessing what the file means.
Place distance and area measurements directly on the plan. DWG geometry can provide drawing context and snapping; PDF sheets use an explicit scale ratio or two-point calibration before measurements are trusted.
01Distance and area
02Two-point PDF calibration
03Per-page PDF scale
04Supported geometry snapping
Why it matters
A number is only useful when its scale is trustworthy.
Construction plans arrive in different formats. A DWG may contain usable drawing geometry, while a PDF can be vector or scanned and may have a different scale on every sheet.
PlanInspect makes that distinction visible. It asks for PDF scale confirmation instead of silently inventing one, and it keeps calibration with the page so the next review starts from the same context.
Capabilities
Measure with the plan, not around it
02
Area
Trace the boundary of a room or zone and calculate its plan area after scale is established.
03
Scale control
Use a known ratio or calibrate between two known points on each PDF page that needs measurement.
DWG and PDF
Measurement depends on the source
CAD / DWG
DWG measurement
Supported CAD geometry provides drawing coordinates and useful snapping targets. Always confirm the source drawing and units before relying on a field decision.
PDF / PLANS
PDF measurement
Confirm or calibrate the scale per page. Vector sheets can expose useful strokes for snapping; raster scans do not become CAD geometry.
Workflow
A repeatable measurement check
- STEP / 01
Choose the correct sheet
Confirm the layout or PDF page, revision, and printed scale note.
- STEP / 02
Establish scale
Use drawing context for DWG or explicitly calibrate the PDF page.
- STEP / 03
Place the measurement
Snap where supported, then place distance or area points on the visible geometry.
- STEP / 04
Keep evidence visible
Leave the measurement on the reviewed plan and export it with the handoff.
Product views
Scale, points, and context remain visible
Verified boundaries
What measurement does not promise
- PlanInspect currently measures distance and area, not counts, angles, volumes, or takeoff spreadsheets.
- PDF calibration is required before a scaled measurement can be trusted.
- A scanned PDF does not provide vector snapping or automatic OCR.
FAQ / Measure plans
Common questions
Can I measure a PDF construction plan on iPad?
Yes. Open the PDF, confirm or calibrate the scale for that page, then place distance or area measurements.
Does PDF scale apply to every page automatically?
No. Scale is stored per page because multipage plan sets can contain sheets with different scales.
Can PlanInspect snap to PDF lines?
It can snap to supported vector strokes detected in a vector PDF. Raster scans do not contain those vector paths.
Is PlanInspect a quantity takeoff app?
No. It supports distance and area review but does not currently provide counts, angle or volume takeoff, or spreadsheet export.
Practical guides
Measure the plan with its scale in view.
Open a DWG or PDF plan and test the workflow on a real project sheet.