Adding an observation to the 3D model

Adding an observation to the 3D model

An observation is a finding you record on your project: a crack, a rusted fixing, a measurement you need in the report. You can place observations directly on the 3D model.

Three tools sit on the left of the toolbar at the bottom of the 3D view:

Tool Use it to How it works
Add Tag Mark a single point One click
Add Line Measure a distance, or trace a path Click each point, then finish
Add Area Outline a region and measure its area Click each corner, then finish

Placing a tag

  1. Click Add Tag. The button highlights to show the tool is active.
  2. Click the spot on the model you want to mark.

Its details panel opens, ready for you to fill in the class, severity and any other fields your team uses. See Filling in an observation's details.

It is a draft observation until you click Add to project. Its name shows in italics in the observation list until then, and starting another one discards it. See Saving your observations.

Drawing a line or an area

Both tools work the same way. You place several points, then tell the portal you are done.

  1. Click Add Line or Add Area.
  2. Click on the model to place each point. A hint follows your cursor telling you what to do next ("Click to place first point", then "Click to add point").
  3. Finish the shape by either:
    • double-clicking, or
    • clicking the checkmark that appears once you have enough points.

An area needs at least three points. If you finish with fewer, the drawing is simply discarded.

Tip: the cursor hint is the fastest way to know where you are in a drawing. If it disappears, your cursor is not over the model. Move back onto the surface and it returns.

Turning a tool off

Tools switch themselves off after you create one observation. If you want to place several, click the tool again for each one.

To cancel without creating anything:

  • click the active tool a second time, or
  • press Esc.

Both cancel any half-finished drawing too.

What happens when you pick up a tool

  • Any observation you had selected is deselected, so the shape you are drawing is not confused with one you were editing.
  • Edit box is switched off if it was on, so the box stops accepting handle drags. Clipping itself stays on, so your cut-away view is preserved while you draw.

Why are the drawing tools greyed out?

The three tools stay visible but greyed when you cannot use them. The usual reasons, most common first:

Reason What to do
You are in Smart Detections or Reports Switch back to Inspect using the mode picker in the header. Observations can only be drawn in Inspect.
Edit box is on in the clipping panel Turn it off. Enable clipping does not block drawing; only Edit box does.
You do not have permission to create observations Ask a project or workspace administrator. Viewers can see observations but not create them.
The model is still loading Wait for it to finish.

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