Cross-Sections allows users to create vertical slice views through their project data, revealing internal structure, alignment, and surface profiles that are otherwise hidden in a full 3D view. This is particularly useful for inspection, design verification, clearance analysis, and stakeholder communication.
The feature works across multiple data types and integrates with SKAND's existing measurement, screenshot, and sharing workflows.
Supported Layers
Cross-sections can be created through the following layer types:
3D meshes
Point clouds
DXFs
IFCs
OBJs
The Cross-Section Viewer
Once a cross-section is created, it opens in a dedicated viewer panel showing the slice with elevation values along the vertical axis and horizontal distances along the top. The viewer provides a complete toolset for inspecting, measuring, and documenting the section.
Viewer Features and Tools
The cross-section viewer includes the following tools, accessible from the top toolbar.
Custom Background Color
Users can choose a background color for their cross-sections.
Adjustable Depth
The depth field controls how thick the slice is along the viewing axis. Increasing the depth captures more geometry behind the cutting plane, which is helpful for understanding context, while a thinner depth produces a cleaner, more precise section.
Grid Step
The grid step value defines the spacing of the grid intervals on both the elevation (vertical axis) and the length of the cutting line (horizontal axis).
Toggle Grid
The grid overlay can be turned on or off with a single click. This is useful when preparing the view for screenshots or presentations where a clean, uncluttered slice is preferred.
Measurement Tool
The measurement tool lets users place temporary measurements directly on the cross-section. Each measurement displays four values:
Straight Distance – direct point to point distance between the two picked points.
Horizontal Distance – distance along the horizontal axis only.
Vertical Distance – difference in elevation between the two points.
Slope – gradient between the two points, expressed as a ratio or percentage.
Note: Measurements are temporary and exist only for the current viewer session.
Fly to Cross-Section
This tool reframes the main 3D camera onto the cross-section's location and orientation, instantly bringing the user to the relevant area of the project.
Screenshot Export
The screenshot tool exports the current cross-section camera state as a
PNGimage and the measurements made in aCSVfile. The export captures exactly what the user sees, including grid, measurements, and color settings.Ellipsis Menu (...)
The ellipsis menu in the viewer header exposes two additional tools:
Override Settings – lets users adjust display settings specific to the current cross-section, independent of the main project settings.
Delete – removes the cross-section from the project. This action cannot be undone.
Close Button
Closes the cross-section viewer panel.
Creating Cross-Sections
Users select the layers they want to include in their cross-section from the layers panel on the left.
Click the Cross-Section tool in the top right toolbar, located adjacent to the annotation tool and the ortho/perspective view toggle.
Name the cross-section.
Optional: Use the search field to find and add layers that were not selected initially.
Confirm that all relevant layers are selected.
Pro tip: Users can select multiple layers when creating a cross section, as long as they are of a supported type (3D meshes, point clouds, DXF, IFC, and OBJ).
Click Create to begin placing the cross-section points.
Place the first point of the cross-section line by left-clicking on the area of interest. This line defines where the cross-section will be cut.
Extend the line to the next point of interest and left-click to place the second point.
Define the area to be cut by extending the dashed line upward or downward, perpendicular to the cross-section line.
The cross-section floating window appears, displaying the cross-section view. The window can be resized to fit the user's preferred working space.
Optional: Click the color palette tool next to the cross-section name to change the background color.
Optional: Adjust the Depth and Grid Step values in the top toolbar.
Optional: Toggle Grid Lines on and off.
Click the measurement tool to take temporary measurements within the cross-section.
View the measurement details displayed in the information popup window.
Click the camera button to take a screenshot of the current cross-section view. The image is exported as a PNG file.
Click the ellipsis button (...) to see two additional options – Override Settings and Delete the cross-section.
Close to exit the cross-section view panel.
Managing Cross Sections
Cross-sections are managed through a floating panel with two tabs: Create and List. Together, these tabs cover the full lifecycle of a cross section, from initial setup through to ongoing organization.
Create Tab
The Create tab is where new cross-sections are defined. Users give the section a name, then select which layers it should cut through using the checkboxes in the layer list. The list includes every supported layer in the project, such as 3D meshes, point clouds, DXF, IFC, and OBJ files. Only the selected layers will be sliced when the cross section is generated.
A search field at the top of the layer list helps locate specific layers quickly in projects with many entries.
List Tab
The List tab shows all cross sections that have been created in the project. Each entry can be opened directly from the list, and a search field at the top makes it easy to find a specific section by name when the list grows long.
Each list item has its own ellipsis context menu with two tools:
Rename – edit the cross section's display name.
Delete – permanently remove the cross section from the project.
Sharing Cross Sections
Cross-sections can be included in Share Links so that stakeholders can view them without needing direct project access.
Go to Share Links and click Create share link.
Fill it a name or leave it as is.
It is recommended to first create a View that displays the Cross-Section window before creating a share link.
Select the View with the Cross-Section window enabled and set it as the default Home View.
Next, click the Cross Sections tab to view the available cross sections for sharing.
Tick the checkbox to select a cross section to share.
Switch to the preferred Workspace mode.
Click Save and copy link to generate the share link.
Stakeholders can now view the applied cross section in the share link.
Pro tip: Here's a sample share link with cross-section view.