Polygon Editing Tools

TytonAI includes a comprehensive suite of polygon editing tools to help users refine and manage spatial data efficiently. These tools are essential for building high-quality training datasets, correcting geometry issues, cleaning overlapping classifications, and ensuring ecological monitoring inputs are precise and effective. This guide covers polygon editing tool available in the system with detailed functionality, access instructions, examples, behaviors, and expert tips.

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Core Editing Tools

These tools help users edit, refine, and manage polygons within imagery.
They provide essential controls for splitting, merging, cutting, and combining spatial features — forming the foundation of accurate training data and study area preparation in TytonAI.

Use these tools to:

• Adjust and maintain clean, non-overlapping polygons
• Combine or separate polygons for data correction and simplification
• Ensure accurate geometry alignment before classification or export

Polygon Cut Tool

Overview

The Polygon Cut Tool subtracts the area of any intersecting polygons from the currently selected polygon. This tool is used to eliminate overlaps or conflicts between polygons, ensuring clean, non-overlapping training data inputs for classification.

Access

Right-click on a polygon > Polygon Cut
Shortcut: Alt + C

How It Works

• Select the polygon you want to subtract from
• Ensure at least one intersecting polygon overlaps the selected shape
• Run the Cut tool — only the selected polygon will be modified, subtracting the intersecting area

tip

• Only the selected polygon is changed
• Overlapping polygons remain intact
• Ideal for cleaning up conflicts in training or study area polygons

Polygon Slice Tool

Overview

The Polygon Slice Tool splits the selected polygon wherever it intersects with other polygons. This creates one or more new segments of the original polygon, each with the same properties.

Access

Right-click polygon > Polygon Slice

Shortcut: Shift + C

How It Works

• Select a polygon that overlaps other features.
• Run the tool to divide it at intersections.
• Resulting segments retain the classification and properties of the original polygon.

Tip

• Works well after using Buffer or Translate to split touching shapes.
• Use to refine training areas along feature boundaries.

Merge Tool

Overview

The Merge Tool combines two or more selected polygons into one unified geometry. It's ideal for consolidating adjacent or overlapping shapes into a single classified region.

Access

Select multiple polygons > Right-click > Merge
Shortcut: Ctrl + M

How It Works

• Hold Shift and click to select two or more polygons
• Right-click and choose Merge
• The merged polygon adopts the class and properties of the first selected shape

Tip

• Select the polygon with the desired class first, then add others
• Works for adjacent or disjoint shapes (multi-polygon output)
• Useful after splitting, translating, or editing training geometries

Merge By Class Tool

Overview

The Polygon Merge by Class Tool automatically merges all adjacent or overlapping polygons that share the same class type.
This tool is ideal for cleaning and consolidating datasets, ensuring that all polygons of a given class are combined into unified, continuous shapes.

Access

Hold Shift and Left-click to select multiple polygons
Right-click on the selected polygons → Merge by Class
Shortcut: Ctrl + D

How It Works

• Hold Shift and Left-click to select all polygons you want to include
• Right-click on one of the selected polygons and choose Merge by Class
• The tool automatically merges polygons of the same class into a single, unified polygon
• Polygons of different classes remain unchanged
• The merged polygon inherits the class and attributes from the original polygons

Tip

• Ideal for cleaning up fragmented polygons after manual editing or import
• Reduces visual clutter and improves classification accuracy
• Polygons of different classes are ignored during the merge process

Explode Tool

Overview

The Explode Tool separates a selected multi-polygon into individual polygon features.
Each new polygon keeps the same classification and attributes as the original.

Access

Right-click polygon → Explode
Shortcut: Ctrl + E

How It Works

• Select a Multi-Polygon – Click on a feature labelled as MultiPolygon.
• Explode – Right-click → Explode to split it into individual polygons.
• Batch Explode – Hold Shift + Left Click to box-select an area, then right-click → Explode to separate all multi-polygons within the selection.

Tip

• Use when you need to edit or reclassify polygons independently within a training area.

Clean Coordinates Tool

Overview

The Clean Coordinates Tool removes unnecessary, duplicate, or redundant vertices from polygon geometries without altering their shape. This improves polygon quality and platform performance.

Access

Right-click > Modify > Clean Coordinates

How It Works

• Select a polygon with excessive or noisy vertices
• Run the Clean Coordinates tool to simplify the geometry internally
• The visual shape remains unchanged while internal complexity is reduced

Tip

• Especially effective for polygons imported from raster-derived processes
• Improves processing speed and geometric stability

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Geometry Tools

These tools provide fine-tuned control over polygon geometry, allowing users to adjust shape, position, and complexity for more precise mapping and analysis.
They are typically used to refine existing polygons — improving alignment, accuracy, and visual clarity without changing classification data.

Use these tools to:

• Move, resize, or rotate polygons for accurate placement
• Smooth or simplify complex edges for cleaner outlines
• Buffer polygons to create offset boundaries or influence zones

Translate Tool

Overview

The Translate Tool moves a polygon by a defined distance and direction. It’s commonly used for adjusting misaligned shapes, testing spatial shifts, or separating overlapping features without altering geometry.

Access

Right-click > Transform > Translate

How It Works

• Specify the distance to move the polygon.
• Select a unit of measurement (e.g., mm, cm, m, km, ft, yd).
• Enter a bearing in degrees:
  0° = North, 90° = East, 180° = South, 270° = West.
• Click Translate to apply.

Tip

• Great for testing positional accuracy or preparing offset layers.
• Does not affect classification or attributes.

Scale Tool

Overview

The Scale Tool enlarges or shrinks a polygon from its center using a numeric scaling factor. It’s especially useful for expanding buffer zones or narrowing the extent of training areas for more refined data input.

Access

Right-click > Transform > Scale

How It Works

• Input a numeric factor (e.g., 1.5 scales to 150%).
• Scaling is applied proportionally from the polygon's centroid.
• Press Scale to apply the transformation.

Tip

• Use values less than 1.0 to shrink the polygon.
• Combine with the Simplify Tool to clean up geometry post-scaling.

Rotate Tool

Overview

The Rotate Tool allows you to rotate a polygon in 15-degree increments, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. It’s ideal for aligning polygons with landscape features, imagery orientation, or directional reference.

Access

Right-click > Transform > Rotate CW / Rotate CCW

How It Works

• Select a polygon.
• Use the context menu to apply 15° rotations.
• Rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise based on alignment needs.

Tip

• Combine with Translate for precise alignment.
• Each action rotates the shape by exactly 15 degrees.

Smooth Tool

Overview

The Smooth Tool reduces jagged edges and pixelation in polygons by applying one or more smoothing iterations. It enhances visual quality and prepares polygons for presentation or further processing.

Access

Right-click > Modify > Smooth

How It Works

• Input the number of smoothing iterations (e.g., 3).
• Click Smooth to apply changes to the selected polygon.

Tip

• Run multiple passes for progressively smoother curves.
• Ideal for simplifying digitized shapes or improving training geometry aesthetics.

Simplify Tool

Overview

The Simplify Tool reduces the number of vertices in a polygon based on a specified tolerance. It streamlines geometry for better performance while maintaining the overall shape and accuracy.

Access

Right-click > Modify > Simplify

How It Works

• Set a Tolerance value (e.g., 1)
• Optionally enable High Quality mode
• Click Simplify to apply the simplification process

Tip

• Higher tolerance values result in greater simplification.
• Use High Quality mode to better preserve curve integrity.
• Ideal for cleaning up detailed or noisy shapes without losing form.

Buffer Tool

Overview

The Buffer Tool expands a polygon outward by a defined distance, creating a surrounding buffer zone. It is often used for defining areas of influence, refining training zones, or preparing data for post-processing.

Access

Right-click > Modify > Buffer

How It Works

• Enter a radius value (e.g., 0.5)
• Ensure the unit matches your map projection (e.g., meters, feet)
• Click Buffer to apply the transformation

Tip

• Use in combination with tools like Polygon Slice or Cut for complex workflows
• Ideal for growing regions for risk analysis or coverage expansion
• Radius must use the same units as the dataset’s coordinate system

Remapper Tool

Overview

The Remapper Tool is used to batch update classification attributes, colors, or other properties across all polygons within a layer. It streamlines the process of correcting or standardizing training data.

Access

Right-click > Modify > Remapper

How It Works

• Select the attribute to update (e.g., Classification, Color)
• Enter the Source and Target values
• Optionally remap multiple fields at once
• Preview the changes and click Remap to apply

Tip

• Efficient for standardizing class names and color codes
• Changes apply to all matching polygons in the active layer
• Always preview before confirming to avoid errors