Measuring an Irregular Shape

If you want to measure an an irregular shape, try using an instrument called a "planimeter". They work by using your hands to roll the instrument around on a scaled drawing or map, around on a closed loop to find the area of the shape. Just to give an idea of how planimeters are used, golf course designers use planimeters to figure golf course fairways and golf course greens. Sometimes Doctors use them to measure an area of something like a tumor on an x-ray taking measuring at intervals in time to see expansion or contraction of the area. I've even heard of shoe manufacturers disassembling a shoes' leather, then taking the area measurements of the leather, then once again after the shoe has been worn, which gives the designer an idea of material stretch. To summarize, planimeters are great area measuring tools.