About Features
The term feature is used in spatial modeling for any simple graphic element that can be put on a map to represent a thing in the real world. Features can be classified as points, lines, or areas.
- Points-have no length or area but simply a coordinate location. Utility poles, fuses, meters, gas valves, customers, and map annotations are examples of this type of feature.
- Lines-have length but no area. Lines consist of a series of ordered coordinates (points). Gas mains, sewer lines, and conductors are examples of facilities commonly represented by line features in a GIS database.
- Areas-defined by a set of enclosing perimeter lines. Job sites, property parcels, and census tracts are typical area features. Areas are sometimes known as "polygons" and "regions" in GIS terminology.
In Bentley OpenUtilities Designer, all features available for design work are displayed in the Features Catalog. The specific content of the catalog is determined by the facilities and miscellaneous object classes that make up your company's data model.