19 apr 2023
Whether you’re diving into a DIY project or just figuring out if that dream sofa will squeeze into your living room, having a reliable way to measure with your phone camera can save you some serious hassle. And no, we’re not talking about an expensive laser gadget—just your smartphone, which is already in your pocket. All you need is the right app. Enter Area, iScanner’s free measurement feature for Android. It’s perfect for those times when you don’t have a tape measure handy or when you need to measure objects that are hard to reach.
Don’t get us wrong, tape measures are great, indispensable tools. They do have limitations, though. For one thing, you’ll have to get your hands dirty, sometimes literally. For another, objects you need to measure may be too high or hidden behind a series of obstacles. And lastly, very few people have a habit of carrying a tape measure in their handbag.
So if you’re not too keen on getting your shoes wet just to measure something in your garden, or you simply don’t have a tape measure on you, it’s great to have a backup, especially one that doesn’t require you to squat, crawl, or use a stepladder.
Area is a measurement feature for Android that is based on the ARCore—an amazing computer vision technology that can detect the position and orientation of the device’s camera relative to its surroundings. ARCore can recognize surfaces and track the movements of the camera in 3D space. Please note that ARCore technology works on devices with Android 7.0 and later. You can find more details on supported devices here.
You can take measurements of whatever it is you’re pointing your camera at! First, open the iScanner app. Then tap the blue plus icon at the bottom of the screen and select Camera. Next, choose the Area scanning mode. All set! All you have to do now is point your camera at the object you need to measure.
The process is very straightforward, but the app will give you visual clues to guide you through it. Basically, you need to align the on-screen guides with the object’s physical outlines.
If taking measurements is not something you do on a daily basis, trying to remember those numbers can be a bit like carrying water in your hands. One second you have them memorized, but by the time you get hold of a pencil, they slip your mind.
The good news is that you don’t have to rely on memory. The app will automatically make a record of your measurements in real time. Once you’ve lined up your measurements, it will prepare a blueprint of the measured object that you can save, share, print, or delete in one tap.
Whether it’s for material and cost estimation or space planning, the Area feature can calculate the surface area for you in seconds. This can be especially handy if you need the numbers urgently or if your room has a complex layout.
Just align the guides with the outlines of whatever it is you need the surface area for until you have a closed loop and then tap Next. The app will calculate the surface area and draw up a blueprint.
In the app, you can easily convert your measurements into various measuring units of both the imperial and metric systems. The app will remember your choice and continue using it for future measurements so that you don’t have to switch each time.
Area is a measurement feature for Android that also comes with iScanner’s other features, such as adding text boxes, a new page with your comments, or a photo to your blueprints.
Adding a photo of your room to your blueprint can be helpful in several ways. You can easily reference the photo when out shopping for materials or working with an interior designer. Plus, you can use the photo-blueprint combo to request quotes from professionals and get more accurate budget estimations. By having a visual reference of the room, you can avoid costly mistakes and make sure you’re getting the most out of your space.
So, keep up the good work, and don’t forget to use handy digital tools like Area that can make your DIY projects easier and more enjoyable! By the way, the Area feature is also available on iOS.
