Abstract: A method for measuring the area of polygonal planar surfaces in space, wherein a device is used having a range finder mounted on a leg support by a frame having a central point, elements for the angular tracking in space of the viewing direction of the range finder, elements for triggering the acquisition of the spherical coordinates of the point targeted by the range finder, and a digital processing unit. For each polygonal planar surface to be measured, a series of measuring points is plotted which allows the surface to be determined topologically and individually and which includes, for each surface edge, at most two points, whose projections on the surface in a predetermined direction pertain to the edge. The processing unit produces a digital model of the surface by generating segments from the spherical coordinates of the measuring points plotted and for calculating the surface area of the digital model.

Abstract: A method for measuring the area of polygonal planar surfaces in space, wherein a device is used having a range finder mounted on a leg support by a frame having a central point, elements for the angular tracking in space of the viewing direction of the range finder, elements for triggering the acquisition of the spherical coordinates of the point targeted by the range finder, and a digital processing unit. For each polygonal planar surface to be measured, a series of measuring points is plotted which allows the surface to be determined topologically and individually and which includes, for each surface edge, at most two points, whose projections on the surface in a predetermined direction pertain to the edge. The processing unit produces a digital model of the surface by generating segments from the spherical coordinates of the measuring points plotted and for calculating the surface area of the digital model.