Buffer

Buffers can be created around objects in a base layer. You can create buffers around points, polylines and polygons. Since Surfer 18, rectangles, rounded rectangles, and ellipses are now considered polygons and can be used in Feature Editing commands. The distance units used to create the buffer are the same units that the map is in.

To create a buffer:

1. Click the Base(vector) layer in the Contents window to select it.
2. Select the object(s) you wish to create the buffer around.
3. Click Features | New Features | Buffer.
4. In the Buffer dialog:

1. Enter the Number of buffers to create. If you choose more than one, they'll be concentric with equal distances between them.
2. Enter the Buffer distance in the same units that the map is in.
3. Choose whether or not to combine overlapping buffer polygons. You might want to combine them if you select multiple roads or rivers, so that you get one polygon around them all instead of individual overlapping polygons.
4. Click OK.

Each buffer polygon is created as a separate polygon, as seen in the Contents window. You can adjust the properties of each polygon individually to change the line or fill colors. To adjust the buffer distance, recreate the buffer.

Create buffer areas around objects at specified distances, such as concentric areas around well points, or a combined polygon around streams.

Range Ring

A range ring creates concentric circles of a specific radius around a selected point location. To create a range ring in a map:

1. Select the existing map.
2. Click Home | Add to Map | Layer | Empty Base.
3. Click the new Base(vector) layer in the Contents window to select it.
4. Click Features | Insert | Range Ring
    
5. Click on the map at the center location for the circle(s) and then press ESC.
6. Select the Range Ring and adjust any of the settings (e.g. number of rings, radius, color, symbol and line properties, etc) in the Properties window.
   The radius value is in map units, so if your map is in UTM coordinates (meters), then the radius value is also in meters.

Create range rings at specific point locations. Adjust the number of rings, symbol properties, line and fill properties, or change the shape from a circle to a square.

Updated November 2021