Hi guys --

Quick note to say problem sorted. I downloaded a simple free cad program called emachineshop.
http://www.emachineshop.com/

Its well supported with video tutorials for a cad beginner like me, and is provided as a do-it-yourself design service - You design your metal object, and they then use your design to make it for you with their laser cutters, etc. The programs focus is thus pretty limited, but I was able to use it to accurately design my 2D land subdivision in a couple of hours using the survey data from the deposited plan -- the bearings and distances of each boundary. The program was able to calculate areas of each lot as well. Like Sketchup, area calc with emachineshop is not associative -- ie once the shape is finalised, its locked. You cant drag it this way and that, as you can with a line, rectangle, or circle, and watch the dimensions change as you do. Also, having put the intl bndries in to create 4 lots (sub-areas), I had to save it, reopen a copy, then erase lines til I had only one lot to measure at a time. For some reason, I had to flip it over (View/Bottom) before it would read the area.

Next job is to tackle 3D and add the contour data. Maybe by then I will be ready to tackle Sketchup and dress it up with some houses and landscaping!!

Thanks

malakaii

I am looking to subdivide an irregular block of land into 4 lots.

I simply need to look at a flat screen 2 dimensional image (from an imported jpg) for the external boundaries. Can this program operate in 2D & tell me the area of an enclosed space (knowing the shape and dimensions)?

If so, can I then draw internal boundaries which need to be located so as to create lots of equal area. Having drawn the internal boundaries approx where I think they need to be, can I drag those internal boundaries into place, reading the internal lot area(s) as they change?

I apologise if this seems too simple a task, but I could find nothing via a search of the pdf manual.