Multiple-pass rendering of a digital three-dimensional model of a structure

A method of rendering a scene including a digital three-dimensional (3D) model of a structure, the method comprising:

• loading, by an apparatus including a processor and a memory storing computer-readable program code portions executable by the processor, a scene graph composed of a hierarchical group of nodes representing respective 3D objects of the digital 3D model;
• traversing, by the apparatus, the scene graph and selecting nodes of the hierarchical group of nodes, the nodes so selected representing a plurality of 3D objects of the respective 3D objects of the digital 3D model;
• adding, by the apparatus, the plurality of 3D objects to a render queue;
• and
• after the scene graph is traversed and the nodes are selected and the plurality of 3D objects are added to the render queue:
• performing, by the apparatus, a multiple-pass rendering of the plurality of 3D objects from the render queue, performing the multiple-pass rendering including in a pass of a plurality of passes, rendering a threshold portion but not all of the plurality of 3D objects to a framebuffer for output to a display device, at least one of the plurality of 3D objects being left in the render queue after rendering the threshold portion.

A computer-readable storage medium for rendering a scene including a digital three-dimensional (3D) model of a structure, the computer-readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

• load a scene graph composed of a hierarchical group of nodes representing respective 3D objects of the digital 3D model;
• traverse the scene graph and select nodes of the hierarchical group of nodes, the nodes so selected representing a plurality of 3D objects of the respective 3D objects of the digital 3D model;
• add the plurality of 3D objects to a render queue;
• and
• after the scene graph is traversed and the nodes are selected and the plurality of 3D objects are added to the render queue:
• perform a multiple-pass rendering of the plurality of 3D objects from the render queue, the apparatus being caused to perform the multiple-pass rendering including in a pass of a plurality of passes, the apparatus being caused to render a threshold portion but not all of the plurality of 3D objects to a framebuffer for output to a display device, at least one of the plurality of 3D objects being left in the render queue after rendering the threshold portion.