Method for providing a projection to align 3D objects in 2D environment

1. A method for visualizing a three-dimensional model of an object in a two-dimensional environment, the method comprising:

receiving, with a processor, from a user, an import request to import the two-dimensional environment to be used as a background for the three-dimensional model;

importing, with the processor, based on the import request, the two-dimensional environment;

receiving, with the processor, from the user, a superimposing request to superimpose the three-dimensional model of the object onto the two-dimensional environment;

superimposing, with the processor, the three-dimensional model of the object onto the two-dimensional environment based on the superimposing request;

superimposing, with the processor, a shadow of the three-dimensional model of the object onto one or more planes of the two-dimensional environment, the three-dimensional model positioned away from the one or more planes; and

displaying, with the processor, the three-dimensional model of the object on the two-dimensional environment and the shadow on the one or more planes of the two-dimensional environment for guiding a positioning of the three-dimensional model of the object within the two-dimensional environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

superimposing the three-dimensional model of the object along a plane at a first position within the two-dimensional environment;

moving the three-dimensional model of the object along an axis perpendicular to the plane; and

projecting a planar target of the three-dimensional model of the object on the plane about the axis.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting an alignment axis from a first three-dimensional model of an object;

generating a planar projection along the alignment axis; and

positioning a shadow of a second three-dimensional model of an object corresponding to the planar projection.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving the three-dimensional model of the object within the two-dimensional environment includes one or more of moving the three-dimensional model of the object in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a rotational manner about an axis of the three-dimensional model of the object.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein superimposing the shadow of the three-dimensional model of the object onto the two-dimensional environment includes superimposing the shadow onto two or more of a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, an inclined plane, and a curved surface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shadow is displayed as an outline of the three-dimensional model of the object.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the shadow is displayed when the three-dimensional model is selected.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving metadata from the three-dimensional model defining a spatial requirement, the spatial requirement corresponding to a region of the two-dimensional environment surrounding the three-dimensional model and extending a region of the two-dimensional environment occupied by the three-dimensional model beyond a physical dimension of the three-dimensional model; and

projecting the spatial requirement onto the two-dimensional environment.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a spatial requirement of the three-dimensional model;

identifying an interaction of the spatial requirement with one or more of an object within the two-dimensional environment, an additional three-dimensional model superimposed onto the two-dimensional environment, a boundary of a plane of the two-dimensional environment, and an additional spatial requirement of the additional three-dimensional model; and

if the interaction is not identified, a superimposing module is configured to superimpose the three-dimensional model onto the two-dimensional environment.

10. A system for visualization of a three-dimensional model of an object in a two-dimensional environment, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device, the storage device containing instructions executable by the processor comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive one or more requests from a user, the requests including one or more of an import request, a scale data request, a superimposing request, a selection of the three-dimensional model of the object, and a request for projection of the three-dimensional model of the object;

an importing module configured to import, based on the import request of the user, the two-dimensional environment;

a superimposing module configured to superimpose, based on the superimposing request, the three-dimensional model of the object onto the two-dimensional environment; and

a visualizing module configured to render a display of a projection footprint of the three-dimensional model of the object on one or more planes within the two-dimensional environment based on the request for projection of the three-dimensional model of the object, the one or more planes positioned away from the three-dimensional model of the object, wherein a position of the projection footprint on the one or more planes indicates a position of the three-dimensional model of the object within the two-dimensional environment.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the superimposing module is further configured to superimpose the three-dimensional model of the object along a plane at a first position within the two-dimensional environment;

a moving module is further configured to move the three-dimensional model of the object along an axis perpendicular to the plane; and

the visualizing module is configured to, upon selection of the three-dimensional model of the object, project a planar target to the three-dimensional model of the object on the plane about the axis.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the receiving module is configured to receive an input selecting an alignment axis from a first three-dimensional model of an object and an input selecting a second three-dimensional model of a second object; and

the visualizing module is configured to generate a planar projection along the alignment axis, and position a projection of the second three-dimensional model of the second object corresponding to the planar projection.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein moving the three-dimensional model of the object within the two-dimensional environment includes one or more of moving the three-dimensional model of the object in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a rotational manner about an axis of the three-dimensional model of the object.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein displaying the projection footprint of the three-dimensional model of the object on the two-dimensional environment includes displaying the projection footprint on two or more of a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, an inclined plane, and a curved surface.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the projection footprint is displayed as a footprint image of the three-dimensional model of the object.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the receiving module is configured to receive an input from the user selecting the three-dimensional model of the object; and

the visualizing module is further configured to display the projection footprint of the three-dimensional model of the object.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the visualizing module is further configured to:

receive metadata from the three-dimensional model defining a spatial requirement, the spatial requirement corresponding to a region of the two-dimensional environment surrounding the three-dimensional model and extending a region of the two-dimensional environment occupied by the three-dimensional model beyond a physical dimension of the three-dimensional model; and

project the spatial requirement onto the two-dimensional environment.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the visualizing module is further configured to:

determine the spatial requirement of the three-dimensional model;

identify an interaction of the spatial requirement with one or more of an object within the two-dimensional environment, an additional three-dimensional model superimposed onto the two-dimensional environment, and an additional spatial requirement of the additional three-dimensional model; and

if the interaction is not identified, the superimposing module is configured to superimpose the three-dimensional model onto the two-dimensional environment.

19. A system for visualization of a three-dimensional model of an object in a two-dimensional environment, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device, the storage device containing instructions executable by the processor comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive one or more requests from a user, the requests including one or more of an import request, a scale data request, a superimposing request, a request for projection of the three-dimensional model of the object for guiding an alignment of the three-dimensional model of the object, and an input selecting an alignment axis from a first three-dimensional model of an object;

an importing module configured to import, based on the import request of the user, the two-dimensional environment;

a superimposing module configured to superimpose, based on the superimposing request, the three-dimensional model of the object onto the two-dimensional environment; and

a visualizing module configured to render a display of a projection of the three-dimensional model of the object in the two-dimensional environment based on the request for projection of the three-dimensional model of the object, wherein, upon receiving the request for projection, the visualizing module is configured to:

receive metadata from the three-dimensional model defining a spatial requirement, the spatial requirement corresponding to a region of the two-dimensional environment surrounding the three-dimensional model and extending a region of the two-dimensional environment occupied by the three-dimensional model beyond a physical dimension of the three-dimensional model; and

project the spatial requirement onto one or more planes within the two-dimensional environment, the one or more planes positioned away from the three-dimensional model of the object.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the visualizing module is further configured to:

determine the spatial requirement of the three-dimensional model;

identify an interaction of the spatial requirement with one or more of an object within the two-dimensional environment, an additional three-dimensional model superimposed onto the two-dimensional environment, and an additional spatial requirement of the additional three-dimensional model; and

if the interaction is not identified, the superimposing module is configured to superimpose the three-dimensional model onto the two-dimensional environment.