System and method for modeling buildings and building products

A method at a computer server of providing building product models and analytics, the method comprising:

• obtaining a computer file comprising a building model for a modeled building to be presented in a three-dimensional visualization on a client device, the building model comprising an initial building product;
• determining modeling properties for the initial building product and each of one or more alternative building products wherein:
• for the initial building product and each of the one or more alternative building products, the modeling properties indicate how the respective initial building product or alternative building product should appear when the building model is presented in the three-dimensional visualization on the client device,
• the modeling properties are based on one or more product attributes, wherein the one or more product attributes of the one or more alternative building products are different than the one or more product attributes of the initial building product, and
• the modeling properties are additionally based on one or more building-site attributes, the one or more building-site attributes comprising one or more attributes specific to a geographic location of the modeled building;
• causing the building model comprising the initial building product to be presented in the three-dimensional visualization on the client device via a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to modify a view of the building model;
• in response to user input received via the GUI, causing the three-dimensional visualization presented on the client device to replace the initial building product in the building model with at least one of the one or more alternative building products;
• and
• changing an analytical model for the modeled building, wherein:
• the analytical model is used to provide an analytical visualization providing a comparison of selected building products relative to one or more building properties on the client device, and
• the selected building products are selected by the user from the initial building product and the one or more alternative building products.

A computer server comprising:

• a communication interface configured to communicate with a client device;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled with the communication interface and the memory and configured to:
• obtain a computer file comprising a building model for a modeled building to be presented in a three-dimensional visualization on the client device, the building model comprising an initial building product;
• determine modeling properties for the initial building product and each of one or more alternative building products wherein:
• for the initial building product and each of the one or more alternative building products, the modeling properties indicate how the respective initial building product or alternative building product should appear when the building model is presented in the three-dimensional visualization on the client device,
• the modeling properties are based on one or more product attributes, wherein the one or more product attributes of the one or more alternative building products are different than the one or more product attributes of the initial building product, and
• the modeling properties are additionally based on one or more building-site attributes, the one or more building-site attributes comprising one or more attributes specific to a geographic location of the modeled building;
• communicate with the client device, via the communication interface, to:
• cause the building model comprising the initial building product to be presented in the three-dimensional visualization on the client device via a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to modify a view of the building model;
• and
• in response to user input received via the GUI, cause the three-dimensional visualization presented on the client device to replace the initial building product in the building model with at least one of the one or more alternative building products;
• change an analytical model for the modeled building;
• and
• communicate with the client device, via the communication interface, to cause the client device to provide an analytical visualization based at least in part on the changed analytical model, wherein
• the analytical visualization providing a comparison of selected building products relative to one or more building properties, and
• the selected building products are selected from the initial building product and the one or more alternative building products.