AZA 1040 PLANIMETER

Description

The Planimeter from Azalab is a precision instrument designed for measuring the area of two-dimensional shapes on paper maps, plans, charts, or diagrams. Widely used in surveying, cartography, civil engineering, architecture, and geographic information systems (GIS), it is essential for anyone needing fast, reliable, and repeatable area calculations — especially when dealing with irregular or freeform shapes.

Traditional measuring tools fail when it comes to complex figures or curved boundaries. This is where a planimeter excels. Whether you’re working with land use maps, agricultural plots, hydraulic layouts, or mechanical schematics, the Azalab Planimeter makes calculating enclosed areas simple, accurate, and efficient.

The Azalab Planimeter is available in two variants:

1. Manual (Polar) Planimeter:

   • Features a tracing arm, pivot, and mechanical dial.

   • Operated by manually tracing the perimeter of a shape.

   • The dial reads out the area based on the path traced.

2. Digital Planimeter:

   • Includes an LCD screen, electronic sensor, and internal calculator.

   • Measures area automatically and provides instant readouts in multiple units (cm², m², acres, hectares).

   • Often includes memory functions, conversion tools, and calibration settings.

Both models are compact, lightweight, and designed for tabletop or drafting use. They are compatible with standard paper maps, tracing sheets, blueprints, or any planar surface. The digital version is battery-operated, while the manual model is entirely mechanical and does not require power — perfect for use in remote areas or fieldwork setups.

The planimeter’s primary advantage lies in its ability to compute areas without the need for grid lines, mathematical approximations, or software tools. Simply place it at the boundary and trace around the desired area — the device does the rest. This makes it a trusted tool in industries where precision and speed are critical.

Field professionals use the planimeter to calculate:

• Plot areas on cadastral maps

• Water body extents on hydrographic maps

• Floor plans and elevations in construction drawings

• Agricultural field sizes from satellite printouts

• Drainage and contour areas in topographic surveys

Students and researchers benefit from learning how to use a planimeter to develop spatial awareness and grasp measurement techniques before moving on to more advanced digital mapping platforms.

Durability is another key aspect of the Azalab Planimeter. It is built with high-quality materials to ensure longevity and resistance to wear, even after thousands of tracing cycles. The mechanical model uses hardened steel points and brass dials, while the digital version uses ABS casing and sensitive optical encoders.

To learn more about using planimeters or integrating them into GIS workflows, professionals can refer to standard guides published by USGS, Survey of India, or even international universities through platforms like nptel.ac.in or gisgeography.com.

In summary, the Azalab Planimeter is a practical and reliable tool for area measurement in both field and office environments. Whether you’re a seasoned surveyor or a student working on map interpretation, this tool ensures precise measurement of irregular shapes without the need for software, grids, or approximations.

 Specifications:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q1: What is a planimeter used for?
A: A planimeter is used to measure the area of a two-dimensional shape on a flat surface like a map or drawing.

Q2: How does a planimeter work?
A: By tracing the perimeter of a shape, it calculates the enclosed area using mechanical or digital computation.

Q3: Is the digital version more accurate than the manual?
A: Yes, digital planimeters generally offer higher accuracy and faster readings.

Q4: Can it be used on any surface?
A: Yes, as long as the surface is flat and the figure is drawn to scale, the planimeter can be used.

Q5: Is calibration required?
A: Manual planimeters usually require scale conversion manually. Digital models may offer built-in calibration modes.