The Drawing module lets you create sketches on an interactive map canvas, import CAD drawings (DXF/DWG), manage layers, and take measurements. You can save and share your work with other site users.
Access the Drawing module from the main navigation. You will see a toolbar at the top and the map canvas below it.
The module has two main views:
The canvas is a full-screen interactive map powered by OpenLayers.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Sketch name (green text) | Name of the currently loaded sketch |
| Coordinates | Current cursor position on the map |
| CRS indicator | Click to toggle between WGS84 and your site's coordinate system |
| Copy button | Copy the current coordinates to your clipboard |
| Rotation | Current map rotation angle |
Access drawing tools from the Draw menu in the toolbar.
Click on the map to place a single point.
Click to add waypoints along a line. Double-click to finish the line.
Click to add vertices around an enclosed area. Double-click to close and finish the polygon.
Click a location on the map, then enter your label text in the dialog that appears. The text is placed at the clicked position.
Click and drag to draw a continuous freehand line. Release the mouse button to finish.
Access editing tools from the Edit menu in the toolbar.
Click a feature to select it. Use the following modifiers for advanced selection:
Select this tool, then click a feature to show its vertices. Drag any vertex to reshape the feature.
Click and drag selected features to reposition them on the map.
Click and drag to rotate selected features around their center point.
Removes all currently selected features. A confirmation dialog will appear before deletion.
Removes all features from all layers. A confirmation dialog will appear before deletion.
Found in the History menu:
The Layers Panel is on the left side of the canvas. It has collapsible sections for different layer types.
Personal layers are where your drawn features live. You always have at least one layer.
Right-click a layer (or use the context menu) for more options:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Rename | Change the layer name |
| Zoom to Layer | Center the map to show all features in this layer |
| Copy Features | Duplicate selected features into another layer |
| Move Features | Transfer selected features to another layer |
| Delete Layer | Remove the layer (disabled if it is the only layer) |
Toggle visibility and adjust opacity for base map layers:
Each background layer has a visibility toggle (eye icon) and an opacity slider.
Shows imported and published CAD drawings that have been shared. Each drawing has a visibility toggle and opacity slider to overlay it on the canvas.
Access snapping options from the Snap menu in the toolbar.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Snap to Sketches | Drawing endpoints automatically snap to features in your personal sketch layers |
| Snap to Assets | Drawing endpoints automatically snap to features in site asset layers |
Both options are toggles. When enabled, your cursor will snap to nearby features as you draw, helping you create precise, connected geometry.
Access measurement tools from the Measure menu in the toolbar.
Draw a line on the map. The total length is displayed as an overlay on the map.
Draw a polygon on the map. The enclosed area is displayed as an overlay.
Calculates the distance or area of features you have already selected.
Removes all measurement overlays from the map.
Select your preferred unit from the dropdown:
| Unit | Use for |
|---|---|
| m | Short distances |
| km | Long distances |
| ha | Large areas (hectares) |
| m² | Small areas |
| km² | Very large areas |
The sketch name appears in green in the status bar when saved.
Use File > Save As Sketch to save a copy of the current sketch with a new name, leaving the original unchanged.
Use File > New Sketch to clear the canvas and start fresh. If you have unsaved features, a confirmation dialog will appear.
Navigate to Drawings > Import to upload CAD files.
Drag and drop a .dxf or .dwg file onto the upload area, or click to browse your files. The maximum file size is 50 MB.
Select the coordinate reference system (CRS) that matches your CAD file. Common options are pre-populated. You can also type to search the EPSG database by code or name.
The default CRS is EPSG:3944 (France). Choose the CRS that matches how coordinates are stored in your file to ensure correct placement on the map.
Click Import and Preview. The system will:
Status messages update during processing. This may take a moment for large files.
Navigate to Drawings > Drawings to view and manage your imports.
The left panel shows a table with:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Filename | Original file name |
| Type | File format (DXF or DWG) |
| Status | Processing status (see below) |
| Shared | Toggle to share with other site users |
| Created | Upload date and time |
| Delete | Remove the drawing |
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Uploaded | File received, waiting for conversion |
| Processing | File is being converted |
| Converted | Conversion complete, preparing for display |
| Published | Ready to view and use on the canvas |
| Failed | An error occurred during conversion |
Click any row to see a map preview of that drawing in the right panel. Only drawings with Published status can be previewed.
Toggle the Shared switch on a drawing to make it visible to other users on the same site. Shared drawings appear in the Layers Panel under the Drawings section.
Click the delete button on a drawing row. A confirmation dialog will appear before the drawing is removed.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Scroll wheel | Zoom in/out |
| Click + drag | Pan the map |
| Middle mouse drag | Rotate the map |
| Rotate to North button | Reset rotation to 0 degrees |
| Scale bar | Reference for distances (bottom-left) |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo (alternative) |
| Shift + Click | Add/remove from selection |
| Ctrl + Drag | Box select |
| Double-click | Finish drawing a line or polygon |