Methods and systems for establishing a linkage between a three-dimensional electronic design file and a two-dimensional design document

A system for converting a three-dimensional (3D) design model to a two-dimensional (2D) design image, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
• retrieving a 3D design file comprising the 3D design model, wherein the 3D design model includes a plurality of design elements;
• projecting the 3D design model onto a 2D space;
• generating the 2D design image based on the projection of the 3D design model onto the 2D space, wherein the 2D design image is a 2D visual representation of the 3D design model;
• and
• converting the 2D design image to a coded 2D design image by assigning an identifier to each of a plurality of coded design elements of the coded 2D design image, wherein the plurality of coded design elements corresponds to the plurality of design elements of the 3D design model;
• wherein the identifier for each of the plurality of coded design elements is based on a code representing a particular design element of the plurality of design elements with a distinct indicator.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for converting a three-dimensional (3D) design model to a two-dimensional (2D) design image, the non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

• retrieving a 3D design file comprising the 3D design model, wherein the 3D design model includes a plurality of design elements;
• projecting the 3D design model onto a 2D space;
• generating the 2D design image based on the projection of the 3D design model onto the 2D space. wherein the 2D design image is a 2D visual representation of the 3D design model;
• and
• converting the 2D design image to a coded 2D design image by assigning an identifier to each of a plurality of coded design elements of the coded 2D design image, wherein the plurality of coded design elements corresponds to the plurality of design elements of the 3D design model;
• wherein the identifier for each of the plurality of coded design elements is based on a code representing a particular design element of the plurality of design elements with a distinct indicator.