SiCAD has a toolbar for creating electricity network plan on the online maps. The main tasks of creating the network plan are solved using the following tools:

The “Location search” tool allows you to navigate the map by entering the geographical name of the object in the area where you want to design the electricity network.

The “Topo Maps” tool is used to download and display on top of online maps your own topographic plans and maps in raster format jpeg and vector format svg. You can change its position, transparency, size, and rotation for downloaded own topographic map. For accurate scaling, use factor scaling. To do this, use the ruler tool to measure the distance between points on the inserted topographic map (Topomaps). The real distance between these points should be known to you. The ratio of the real value of distance to the ruler measured will be a scaling factor. Entering scaling factor you will get the correspondence between the sizes on the topography and online maps. So at laying the route on the Topomaps you will get real values ​​of wire lengths. After finishing the actions with the Topomaps, be sure to fix its position with the “Fix” button.

The “Cursor” tool (edit) is used to select objects and work with their properties tab, as well as to move objects. It is also possible to copy the typical nodes and groups of typical nodes in the cursor tool.

The “Polygon” Selection tool is used to solve two tasks:

1 – obtaining the specification for the objects of the electricity network, which are within the selected area. The route of the power line is considered selected if all nodes of the route are included in the selection area.

2 – obtaining a snapshot of a fragment of the electricity network plan, which is located in the selected area. Select the area of ​​the electricity network plan. Set the desired scale and click in the main menu of SiCAD “Drawings” – “Get print screen of the map”. (This function is discussed in detail in the section “Receiving documents”).

With the “Ruler” tool it is possible to measure linear distances in meters. For example, between neighbouring power lines or between a power line and other objects (buildings, roads, etc.)

The “angle meter” tool is used for measurments the value of the internal angle in degrees between two spans of the power line. This tool helps to decide on the type of pole and its fixing in the ground and the mechanical load on the pole of the power line. To get the result, you need to successively click the left mouse button on the one and then the second span.

In the “Info” panel, you configure the display of signatures of electricity network objects. Captions of distances in spans of a power line, numbers of poles, marking of typical nodes are displayed or hidden. You can change the font style, size and color.

The “Delete” tool deletes objects. It is possible to delete individual typical nodes, groups of typical nodes (by clicking on the parent typical node) nodes of the power line routes. It is also possible to delete the entire route of the power line by right-clicking on it.

The “Layers” panel allows to divide the project of the electricity network into layers for the decision of two problems:

1 – Output of the specification on the equipment from the included layers which are displayed at present. You must place the objects in different layers in advance. For typical nodes, it is possible to change the location in the layer on the “Properties” tab – by selecting a layer from the drop-down list.

2 – Creating multi-circuit networks and joint laying of several power lines on the same typical nodes (poles). Therefore, it is necessary to connect the routes of different layers in a typical node on the tab of its properties. Read more about the connection of power lines in the tutorial “Electrical calculation of distribution networks”.