How to convert a plan view into a three-dimensional view?

I made such attempts back in N years, but unfortunately they all ended in failure. It can be clearly told to the original poster that this is impossible. Traditional drawings created manually using ACAD contain no data; so-called dimensions and pipe labels are added manually. All 3D modeling software is database-driven; the software generates models by reading data from databases. Orientation data is created during the modeling process and is saved automatically (this process is invisible to the user). Floor plans are generated based on the content of the database, and dimensions, pipe fittings, equipment, and pipe labels are assigned data during the drawing process, with automatic labeling being accomplished by extracting this data. Therefore, ordinary floor plans lack information, and it is impossible to add this information manually. Moreover, different software databases have different formats, so a simple conversion is not feasible. Take a simple example: a tank. In a regular CAD drawing, it is represented as a circle, and the pipe connections are just symbols. However, in a 3D model, the specific dimensions of the equipment are required; data such as those for the cylinder body, end caps, and footings must be entered accurately. Pipe connections also need information such as dimensions, flange standards, and elevation values in order to be created. How can a regular CAD drawing be converted into something like this? It’s highly unlikely that drawings created with the same 3D software can be converted back into models. Furthermore, creating a model using 3D software based on the blueprints is not an easy task. First, it is necessary to find all the original design drawings for pipes, equipment, and structures, especially the completion documents. Errors in the original design drawings can easily be corrected during construction, and some errors that are not visible on the plan become apparent once a model is created. In particular, it is necessary to restore the pipeline grade table and select pipes and fittings strictly in accordance with the original design; otherwise, the resulting model will differ significantly from the original design, making things very difficult. This is especially true in organizations with poor archive management, where it is hard to find all the original drawings as well as samples and technical documentation for certain special valves and fittings. Once, a company created models based on our drawings. During the design review, it was found that there was insufficient operating space in many areas, as well as issues related to collisions. The client also raised objections to us, and there were long disputes. It turned out that the company responsible for creating the models used foreign software and did not have a database of national standards; they replaced standard valves with API valves. Naturally, this led to problems with the dimensions of the valves, and any charts or drawings produced as a result were useless – they were neither attractive nor functional. The models could not reflect the original design, so they had to be discarded. In the end, someone who had enough of all this ended the arguments, and the people who created the models were very frustrated, having worked hard for nothing. I’m going through all this to tell the original poster that one must be very careful when dealing with such a crappy task. We would rather create a new design from scratch than undertake such a tedious and unprofitable job; and if we do it at all, we need to think things through carefully. Time must be invested in the preliminary work, otherwise, haha! When you’re in a desperate situation, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This post was last edited by Boring Pavilion Scholar on 2009-3-29 23:52.]