Generating multi-dimensional building models with ground level images

A method of modeling planar surfaces, the method comprises:

• receiving a plurality of ground-level images from a smartphone, the plurality of ground-level images corresponding to a plurality of sides of a building;
• creating a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud with data points from the received plurality of ground-level images;
• selecting a plurality of vertices defining edges of a plurality of planar surfaces within the 3D point cloud;
• outlining the plurality of planar surfaces based on the selected plurality of vertices;
• and
• creating a simplified façade geometry for the plurality of sides of the building based on the outlined plurality of planar surfaces.

A system for modeling planar surfaces, the system comprises:

• a computer system for receiving, from a wireless capture device, a plurality of ground-level images of a building object captured by the wireless capture device circumnavigating a building object;
• an image database for storing the received plurality of ground-level images of a building object;
• an image processor, operative with the image database, to:
• create a point cloud with data points from the received ground-level images;
• select a plurality of vertices defining edges of at least one single planar surface within the point cloud;
• outline the at least one single planar surface based on the selected plurality of vertices;
• and
• create a simplified façade geometry for the at least one single planar surface based on the outlined single planar surface.