Integrated assemblage of 3D building models and 2D construction drawings

1. A method comprising:

displaying a three-dimensional (3D) model of a building created using computer aided design (CAD) software in a viewer executing on an electronic device having a touch sensitive display;

providing a plurality of selectable interface nodes visible at respective locations within the 3D model displayed in the viewer, each interface node linked to one or more corresponding two-dimensional (2D) construction drawings that show a section view, a plan view, an elevation view or a detail view of the building related to the location of the interface node;

receiving a selection from a user upon a particular interface node within the 3D model via the touch sensitive display;

in response to selection upon the particular interface node, displaying a menu with one or more selectable menu options in the viewer;

receiving an additional selection from the user upon a particular menu option via the touch sensitive display; and

in response to the selection upon the particular interface node and the additional selection of the particular menu option, displaying a corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node in context of the 3D model of the building.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the corresponding 2D drawing for the particular interface node further comprises:

modifying the 3D model of the building to accommodate the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the corresponding 2D drawing for the particular interface node further comprises:

clipping the 3D model of the building at the respective location of the particular interface node to produce a clipped 3D model of the building; and

showing the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node in-situ in the clipped 3D model of the building.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the corresponding 2D drawing for the particular interface node further comprises:

showing the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node superimposed upon the 3D model of the building.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the 3D model of the building displays the 3D model of the building from a viewing angle, and the method further comprises:

after displaying the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node, changing the viewing angle to show the 3D model of the building and the corresponding 2D construction drawing from another angle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of interface nodes are linked to multiple corresponding 2D construction drawings.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing visual feedback acknowledging the selection upon the particular interface node.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node is a section view of the building.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node is a plan view of the building.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node is an elevation view of the building.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding 2D construction drawing depicts a section, plan, elevation or detail view from a viewing angle other than a viewing angle of the 3D model of the building.

12. A method comprising:

displaying a three-dimensional (3D) model of a building created using computer aided design (CAD) software in a viewer executing on an electronic device having a touch sensitive display;

providing a plurality of selectable interface nodes visible at respective locations within the 3D model displayed in the viewer, each interface node linked to one or more corresponding two-dimensional (2D) construction drawings that show a section view, a plan view, an elevation view or a detail view of the building;

receiving a selection from a user upon a particular interface node within the 3D model via the touch sensitive display;

in response to the selection upon the particular interface node, displaying a menu with one or more selectable menu options;

receiving an additional selection from the user upon a particular menu option via the touch sensitive display; and

in response to selection of the particular menu option,

clipping the 3D model of the building at the respective location of the particular interface node to produce a clipped 3D model of the building, and

displaying a corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node in-situ in the clipped 3D model of the building.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying the 3D model of the building displays the 3D model of the building from a viewing angle, and the method further comprises:

after displaying the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node, changing the viewing angle to show the 3D model of the building and the 2D construction drawing from another angle.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of interface nodes are linked to multiple corresponding 2D construction drawings.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing visual feedback acknowledging the selection upon the particular interface node.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a wireless network adaptor configured to communicate with a communication network;

a memory configured to store a software component; and

a processor configured to execute the software component, wherein the software component, when executed by the processor, is operable to:

display a three-dimensional (3D) model of a building on the touch sensitive display;

provide a plurality of selectable interface nodes visible at respective locations within the displayed 3D model, each interface node linked to one or more corresponding two-dimensional (2D) construction drawings that show a section view, a plan view, an elevation view or a detail view of the building related to the location of the interface node;

receive a selection from a user upon a particular interface node within the 3D model via the touch sensitive display; and

in response to the selection upon the particular interface node, display a corresponding 2D drawing for particular interface node in context of the 3D model on the touch sensitive display.

17. The electronic device of 16 wherein the software component, when executed by the processor, is further operable to modify the 3D model of the building to accommodate the 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node.

18. The electronic device of 16 wherein the software component, when executed by the processor, is further operable to show the 2D construction drawing for the particular interface node superimposed upon the 3D model of the building.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed on a processor, are operable to:

display a three-dimensional (3D) model of a building created using computer aided design (CAD) software on an electronic device having a touch sensitive display;

provide a selectable interface node visible at a respective location within the 3D model of the building, the interface node linked to at least one corresponding two-dimensional (2D) construction drawing that shows a section view, a plan view or an elevation view of the building;

receive a selection from a user upon a particular interface node within the 3D model via the touch sensitive display; and

in response to the selection upon the interface node,

clip the 3D model of the building at the respective location of the interface node to produce a clipped 3D model of the building, and

display a corresponding 2D construction drawing for the interface node in context of the clipped 3D model.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, are operable to:

modify the 3D model of the building to accommodate the 2D construction drawing for the interface node.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, are operable to:

show the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the interface node in-situ in the clipped 3D model of the building.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, are operable to:

show the 2D construction drawing for the interface node superimposed upon the 3D model of the building.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, are operable to:

after display of the corresponding 2D construction drawing for the interface node, change a viewing angle to show the 3D model of the building and the 2D construction drawing from another angle.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the interface node is linked to multiple corresponding 2D construction drawings.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, are operable to:

provide visual feedback acknowledging the selection upon the interface node.