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Map Toolbar - Draw and Edit Polygons and Circles

Draw a custom area on the map to filter your query, then reshape, move, or resize it.

Written by Lauren Miller

Use the Draw Polygon and Draw Circle tools to filter your query to a custom area on the map. This article shows how to draw each shape, and how to reshape, move, resize, and remove them. Both tools are in the Map Toolbar; Map Toolbar Overview has more details on every tool.
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Available in: Crash Query, Network Screening, Advanced Network Screening, Safety Analysis (Explore Treatments page)
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Draw Polygon and Draw Circle icons in the Map Toolbar

(The Draw Polygon and Draw Circle tools in the Map Toolbar)
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💡 Tip: Turn off Auto-zoom before you draw or edit a shape. With Auto-zoom on, the map zooms to fit your shape each time it changes, so the map can jump while you work. Click Map Settings (gear icon) in the Map Toolbar and clear Auto-zoom under Zoom Controls.

Map Settings panel with the Auto-zoom checkbox cleared

(Auto-zoom turned off in Map Settings)
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Draw a Polygon

  1. Click Draw Polygon in the Map Toolbar.

  2. Click the map to place the first anchor point.

  3. Keep clicking to add anchor points around the area you want.

  4. Double-click to place the last anchor point and finish the shape. You can also click the first anchor point to close it.

Drawing a polygon around downtown Middleton, Wisconsin, by clicking four anchor points

(Drawing a polygon)
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The polygon is added to the Filter Bar as Polygon 1, and the map shows only the crashes inside it. Each new polygon gets the next number.
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Polygon 1 filter in the Filter Bar, with the polygon drawn on the map

(The new polygon in the Filter Bar)
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From the Filter Bar, you can also change how the polygon filters your query:

  • Exclude an area: Click inside and change it to outside.

  • Rename it: Click the name and type a new one.

  • Remove it: Click the X next to it.
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Edit a Polygon

Click any edge of the polygon to open edit mode. The outline turns orange and shows two kinds of points:

  • Anchor points: The corners of the shape, with white circles around them.

  • Midpoints: The smaller points halfway along each edge.

Polygon in edit mode with an anchor point and a midpoint labeled

(A polygon in edit mode)
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When you're done, click outside the polygon to close edit mode.
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Move an Anchor Point

Drag an anchor point to a new spot. The filter updates when you let go.
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Dragging the top-right anchor point of a polygon outward

(Moving an anchor point)
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Add an Anchor Point

Drag a midpoint. It becomes a new anchor point, and new midpoints appear on each side of it.
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Dragging a midpoint on the right edge of a polygon to add an anchor point

(Adding an anchor point)
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Delete an Anchor Point

  1. Click an anchor point to select it.

  2. Press Delete or Backspace.

  3. Click outside the polygon to apply the change.

💡 Tip: As you edit anchor points, the polygon may show your edit highlighted in orange without applying it. The old shape stays as a gray outline, and the crash count doesn't change. If you see this, click outside the polygon to apply the edit.

Deleting an anchor point, then clicking outside the polygon to apply the change

(Deleting an anchor point)
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Move the Whole Polygon

In edit mode, drag from inside the polygon to move it.
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Draw a Circle

  1. Click Draw Circle in the Map Toolbar.

  2. Click the map where you want the center of the circle.

A circle with a 250 ft radius is added to the Filter Bar as Circle 1, and the map shows only the crashes inside it.
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Placing a circle on University Avenue in Middleton, Wisconsin

(Drawing a circle)
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Change the Radius

  1. In the Filter Bar, click the radius (250 ft).

  2. Type a new radius in feet.

  3. Press Enter. The radius doesn't change until you do.

Changing a circle's radius from 250 to 500 feet in the Filter Bar

(Changing the radius)
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Like polygons, circles can be changed to outside, renamed, or removed from the Filter Bar.
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Edit a Circle

Click the edge of the circle to open edit mode. A circle has many anchor points around its edge.
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Circle in edit mode, with one of its anchor points labeled

(A circle in edit mode)
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Move a Circle

Drag from inside the circle to move it. It keeps its radius.
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Dragging a circle to a new spot on the map

(Moving a circle)
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Reshape a Circle

Drag any anchor point to change the shape.

ℹ️ Note: Reshaping a circle turns it into a polygon. The Filter Bar shows it as Polygon 1, and you can't change its radius anymore. To use a circle again, remove it and draw a new one.

Dragging one anchor point of a circle, which turns the filter into Polygon 1

(Reshaping a circle)

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