Computer system and method for searching BIM data objects

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a client device to:

• access a building information model (BIM) file that encodes a three-dimensional (3D) model for a construction project;
• obtain an initial list of BIM data objects included in the BIM file;
• present, to a user, a graphical user interface (GUI) view that comprises a visualization of (i) the 3D model and (ii) the initial list of BIM data objects that is overlaid on top of the 3D model;
• receive a search query for the initial list of BIM data objects, wherein the search query comprises one or more search terms entered by the user in a text-entry field of the GUI view;
• after receiving the search query, present, to the user, a first updated GUI view that comprises a visualization of (i) the 3D model and (ii) a filtered list of BIM data objects that is overlaid on top of the 3D model, wherein the visualization of the filtered list of BIM data objects comprises (i) a given subset of BIM data objects that match the one or more search terms, and (ii) any other BIM data object that does not match the one or more search terms but has a hierarchical relationship with a respective BIM data object in the given subset;
• receive, from the user, a request for an action to isolate at least one BIM data object that is selected from the filtered list of BIM data objects;
• and
• based on the received request, cause the requested action to isolate the at least one BIM data object by presenting a second updated GUI view that comprises an updated visualization of the 3D model that includes the at least one BIM data object without including visualizations of other BIM data objects.

A method implemented by a client device, the method comprising:

• accessing a building information model (BIM) file that encodes a three-dimensional (3D) model for a construction project;
• obtaining an initial list of BIM data objects included in the BIM file;
• presenting, to a user, a graphical user interface (GUI) view that comprises a visualization of (i) the 3D model and (ii) the initial list of BIM data objects that is overlaid on top of the 3D model;
• receiving a search query for the initial list of BIM data objects, wherein the search query comprises one or more search terms entered by the user in a text-entry field of the GUI view;
• after receiving the search query, presenting, to the user, a first updated GUI view that comprises a visualization of (i) the 3D model and (ii) a filtered list of BIM data objects that is overlaid on top of the 3D model, wherein the visualization of the filtered list of BIM data objects comprises (i) a given subset of BIM data objects that match the one or more search terms, and (ii) any other BIM data object that does not match the one or more search terms but has a hierarchical relationship with a respective BIM data object in the given subset;
• receiving, from the user, a request for an action to isolate at least one BIM data object that is selected from the filtered list of BIM data objects;
• and
• based on the received request, causing the requested action to isolate the at least one BIM data object by presenting a second updated GUI view that comprises an updated visualization of the 3D model that includes the at least one BIM data object without including visualizations of other BIM data objects.