MeasureUp: Height & Roof Pitch

How tall is that tree? How high is that building? Find out with your phone, no tape measure needed. ■ Two taps and you are done Open the camera, aim at the base and tap, then aim at the top and tap. The tilt sensor forms a triangle and the app solves it for the height. If the base is hidden, switch to entering the distance yourself. ■ It shows you the error margin Not just 18.4 m, but 18.4 m plus or minus 0.9 m. The margin comes from how much your hand actually shook while measuring. The shutter locks while you are unsteady, and the screen warns you when you stand too far away to trust the number. ■ Nine tools in one - Height: trees, buildings, poles, ceilings - Person height: stand 2-3 m away, averaged over three readings - Distance: how far away that thing is - Protractor and roof pitch: angle, x/12 and percent grade. Enter the run for rafter length, and add the length along the ridge for the actual area of one roof face - Level: hang frames and shelves straight - Area: convert square meters, pyeong, square feet, hectares and acres. Width and length is enough - Screen ruler: calibrate once with a card for true 1:1 on your device - Light meter: lux where a plant sits, with an approximate PPFD - Metal detector: find iron and nickel by magnetic change ■ Your measurements stay with you The value is burned onto the photo taken at that moment, ready to save or share. Add a note so you remember what you measured. ■ For an accurate reading Stand on the same level ground as your target, and make sure the target is vertical. Enter your eye height carefully - the guide inside the app explains why it matters. Meters and feet, and 12 languages. Note: these are sensor based estimates. Use professional equipment for construction or safety decisions.