3-D models as a navigable container for 2-D raster images

1. A method comprising:

displaying a three-dimensional (3-D) model of a structure in a user interface on a display screen of an electronic device;

providing in the 3-D model, by the electronic device, icons that each correspond to a respective two-dimensional (2-D) raster image of the structure, each icon located at a position within 3-D space of the 3-D model corresponding to a position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image;

receiving a selection of a particular icon on an input device of the electronic device; and

in response to receiving the selection of the particular icon, showing, in the user interface on the display screen of the electronic device, a combined view depicting a processed version of the corresponding 2-D raster image for the particular icon superimposed upon a corresponding portion of the 3-D model, as viewed from the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model, wherein the processed version of the corresponding 2-D raster image has a part removed to create a window through which one or more elements of the 3-D model are visible.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model is a camera eye point, and the position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image is a position where the 2-D raster image was captured.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2-D raster image is a photograph.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the icons are provided in an image cloud level of the 3-D model.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combined view is a saved view, and showing the combined view comprises:

retrieving the saved view from storage in a memory.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

importing the 2-D raster image;

determining camera parameters for use with the 3-D model based on the 2-D raster image, the camera parameters including the position within the 3-D space of the 3-D model;

using the camera parameters to define a view of the 3-D model; and

combining the 2-D raster image with the view of the 3-D model to produce the combined view.

7. A method comprising:

importing a two-dimensional (2-D) raster image of a structure;

determining camera parameters for use with a three-dimensional (3-D) model of the structure based on the 2-D raster image, the camera parameters including a position within 3-D space of the 3-D model corresponding to a position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image;

using, by an electronic device, the camera parameters to define a view of the 3-D model;

processing the 2-D raster image to prepare the 2-D raster image, the processing to remove a part of the 2-D raster image to create a window;

superimposing, by the electronic device, the processed 2-D raster image upon a corresponding portion of the view of the 3-D model to produce a combined view, the window in the processed 2-D raster image to render one or more elements of the 3-D model beneath the 2-D raster image visible in the combined view;

saving the combined view in a memory of the electronic device;

receiving a selection associated with the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model; and

in response to receiving the selection, retrieving the saved view from the memory.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image is a position where the 2-D raster image was captured.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model is a camera eye point.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the 2-D raster image is a photograph.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining further comprises:

using geo-coordinate metadata of the 2-D raster image to derive the camera parameters.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining further comprises:

using an image matching technique to derive the camera parameters.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

displaying the saved view in a user interface on a display screen of the electronic device.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a display screen;

a processor configured to execute executable instructions and process data; and

a memory configured to store the executable instructions and data, the executable instructions and data including:

a three-dimensional (3-D) model of a structure, and

a modeling environment arranged to display the 3-D model on the display screen, the modeling environment model configured to:

provide, in the 3-D model, icons that each correspond to a respective two-dimensional (2-D) raster image of the structure, each icon located at a position within 3-D space of the 3-D model corresponding to a position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image,

process a selection of a particular icon, and

in response to the selection of the particular icon, show, on the display screen, a combined view depicting at least a processed version of a corresponding 2-D raster image for the particular icon superimposed upon a corresponding portion of the 3-D model, as viewed from the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model, wherein the processed version of the corresponding 2-D raster image has a part removed to create a window through which one or more elements of the 3-D model are visible.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the position within 3-D space of the 3-D model is a camera eye point, and the position in physical space associated with the 2-D raster image is a position where the 2-D raster image was captured.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the 2-D raster image is a photograph.