A plan is a view of a 3-dimensional object seen from vertically above (or sometimes

below[citation needed]). It may be drawn in the position of a horizontal plane

passing through, above, or below the object. The outline of a shape in this view is
sometimes called its planform, for example with aircraft wings.

The plan view from above a building is called its roof plan. A section seen in a
horizontal plane through the walls and showing the floor beneath is called a floor
plan.

Elevation

Principal façade of the Panthéon, Paris, by Jacques-Germain Soufflot.

Elevation is the view of a 3-dimensional object from the position of a vertical
plane beside an object. In other words, an elevation is a side view as viewed from
the front, back, left or right (and referred to as a front elevation, [left/ right]
side elevation, and a rear elevation).

An elevation is a common method of depicting the external configuration and

detailing of a 3-dimensional object in two dimensions. Building façades are shown
as elevations in architectural drawings and technical drawings.

Elevations are the most common orthographic projection for conveying the appearance
of a building from the exterior. Perspectives are also commonly used for this
purpose. A building elevation is typically labeled in relation to the compass
direction it faces; the direction from which a person views it. E.g. the North
Elevation of a building is the side that most closely faces true north on the
compass.[2]

Interior elevations are used to show details such as millwork and trim
configurations.

In the building industry elevations are non-perspective views of the structure.

These are drawn to scale so that measurements can be taken for any aspect
necessary. Drawing sets include front, rear, and both side elevations. The
elevations specify the composition of the different facades of the building,
including ridge heights, the positioning of the final fall of the land, exterior
finishes, roof pitches, and other architectural details.

Developed elevation
A developed elevation is a variant of a regular elevation view in which several
adjacent non-parallel sides may be shown together as if they have been unfolded.
For example, the north and west views may be shown side-by-side, sharing an edge,
even though this does not represent a proper orthographic projection.

Section
See also: Cross section (geometry)
A section, or cross-section, is a view of a 3-dimensional object from the position
of a plane through the object.

A section is a common method of depicting the internal arrangement of a 3-

dimensional object in two dimensions. It is often used in technical drawing and is
traditionally crosshatched. The style of crosshatching often indicates the type of
material the section passes through.

With computed axial tomography, computers construct cross-sections from x-ray data.

A 3-D view of a beverage-can stove with a cross-section in yellow.

A 3-D view of a beverage-can stove with a cross-section in yellow.
A 2-D cross-sectional view of a compression seal.
A 2-D cross-sectional view of a compression seal.

Cutaway of a Porsche 996

Cutaway of a Porsche 996

Cross-section of a jet engine

Cross-section of a jet engine

Auxiliary views
An auxiliary view or pictorial, is an orthographic view that is projected into any
plane other than one of the six primary views.[3] These views are typically used
when an object has a surface in an oblique plane. By projecting into a plane
parallel with the oblique surface, the true size and shape of the surface are
shown. Auxiliary views are often drawn using isometric projection.

Multiviews

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Quadrants in descriptive geometry

Gaspard Monge's four quadrants and two planes.

Modern orthographic projection is derived from Gaspard Monge's descriptive
geometry.[4] Monge defined a reference system of two viewing planes, horizontal H
("ground") and vertical V ("backdrop"). These two planes intersect to partition 3D
space into 4 quadrants, which he labeled:

I: above H, in front of V
II: above H, behind V
III: below H, behind V
IV: below H, in front of V
These quadrant labels are the same as used in 2D planar geometry, as seen from
infinitely far to the "left", taking H and V to be the X-axis and Y-axis,
respectively.

The 3D object of interest is then placed into either quadrant I or III

(equivalently, the position of the intersection line between the two planes is
shifted), obtaining first- and third-angle projections, respectively. Quadrants II
and IV are also mathematically valid, but their use would result in one view "true"
and the other view "flipped" by 180° through its vertical centerline, which is too
confusing for technical drawings. (In cases where such a view is useful, e.g. a
ceiling viewed from above, a reflected view is used, which is a mirror image of the
true orthographic view.)

Monge's original formulation uses two planes only and obtains the top and front
views only. The addition of a third plane to show a side view (either left or
right) is a modern extension. The terminology of quadrant is a mild anachronism, as
a modern orthographic projection with three views corresponds more precisely to an
octant of 3D space.

First-angle projection

Comparison of first and third-angle projections showing that related parts in the
views are closer in third-angle
In first-angle projection, the object is conceptually located in quadrant I, i.e.
it floats above and before the viewing planes, the planes are opaque, and each view
is pushed through the object onto the plane furthest from it. (Mnemonic: an "actor
on a stage".) Extending to the 6-sided box, each view of the object is projected in
the direction (sense) of sight of the object, onto the (opaque) interior walls of
the box; that is, each view of the object is drawn on the opposite side of the box.
A two-dimensional representation of the object is then created by "unfolding" the
box, to view all of the interior walls. This produces two plans and four
elevations. A simpler way to visualize this is to place the object on top of an
upside-down bowl. Sliding the object down the right edge of the bowl reveals the
right side view.

An image of an object in a box.

An image of an object in a box.

The same image, with views of the object projected in the direction of sight onto
walls using first-angle projection.
The same image, with views of the object projected in the direction of sight onto
walls using first-angle projection.

Similar image showing the box unfolding from around the object.
Similar image showing the box unfolding from around the object.

Image showing orthographic views located relative to each other in accordance with
first-angle projection.
Image showing orthographic views located relative to each other in accordance with
first-angle projection.

Third-angle projection

An example of a multiview orthographic drawing from a US Patent (1913), showing two

views of the same object. Third angle projection is used.
In third-angle projection, the object is conceptually located in quadrant III, i.e.
it is positioned below and behind the viewing planes, the planes are transparent,
and each view is pulled onto the plane closest to it. (Mnemonic: a "shark in a
tank", esp. that is sunken into the floor.) Using the 6-sided viewing box, each
view of the object is projected opposite to the direction (sense) of sight, onto
the (transparent) exterior walls of the box; that is, each view of the object is
drawn on the same side of the box. The box is then unfolded to view all of its
exterior walls. A simpler way to visualize this is to place the object in the
bottom of a bowl. Sliding the object up the right edge of the bowl reveals the
right side view.

Here is the construction of third angle projections of the same object as above.
Note that the individual views are the same, just arranged differently.

Object in box upload.svg

Third angle projecting.svg

Third angle unfolding.svg

Third angle unfolded.svg

Additional information

Visualised as rolling on the upper and lower surfaces of the drawing plane,
respectively
First-angle projection is as if the object were sitting on the paper and, from the
"face" (front) view, it is rolled to the right to show the left side or rolled up
to show its bottom. It is standard throughout Europe and Asia (excluding Japan).
First-angle projection was widely used in the UK, but during World War II, British
drawings sent to be manufactured in the USA, such as of the Rolls-Royce Merlin, had
to be drawn in third-angle projection before they could be produced, e.g., as the
Packard V-1650 Merlin. This meant that some British companies completely adopted
third angle projection. BS 308 (Part 1) Engineering Drawing Practice, gave the
option of using both projections, but generally, every illustration (other than the
ones explaining the difference between first and third-angle) was done in first-
angle. After the withdrawal of BS 308 in 1999, BS 8888 offered the same choice
since it referred directly to ISO 5456-2, Technical drawings – Projection methods –
Part 2: Orthographic representations.

Third-angle is as if the object were a box to be unfolded. If we unfold the box so

that the front view is in the center of the two arms, then the top view is above
it, the bottom view is below it, the left view is to the left, and the right view
is to the right. It is standard in the USA (ASME Y14.3-2003 specifies it as the
default projection system), Japan (JIS B 0001:2010 specifies it as the default
projection system), Canada, and Australia.

Both first-angle and third-angle projections result in the same 6 views; the
difference between them is the arrangement of these views around the box.

Symbol

Symbols used to define whether a projection is either first angle (left) or third
angle (right)
A great deal of confusion has ensued in drafting rooms and engineering departments
when drawings are transferred from one convention to another. On engineering
drawings, the projection is denoted by an international symbol representing a
truncated cone in either first-angle or third-angle projection, as shown by the
diagram on the right.

The 3D interpretation is a solid truncated cone, with the small end pointing toward
the viewer. The front view is, therefore, two concentric circles. The fact that the
inner circle is drawn with a solid line instead of dashed identifies this view as
the front view, not the rear view. The side view is an isosceles trapezoid.

In first-angle projection, the front view is pushed back to the rear wall, and the
right side view is pushed to the left wall, so the first-angle symbol shows the
trapezoid with its shortest side away from the circles.
In third-angle projection, the front view is pulled forward to the front wall, and
the right side view is pulled to the right wall, so the third-angle symbol shows
the trapezoid with its shortest side towards the circles.
Multiviews without rotation
Orthographic multiview projection is derived from the principles of descriptive
geometry and may produce an image of a specified, imaginary object as viewed from
any direction of space. Orthographic projection is distinguished by parallel
projectors emanating from all points of the imaged object and which intersect of
projection at right angles. Above, a technique is described that obtains varying
views by projecting images after the object is rotated to the desired position.

Descriptive geometry customarily relies on obtaining various views by imagining an

object to be stationary and changing the direction of projection (viewing) in order
to obtain the desired view.

See Figure 1. Using the rotation technique above, note that no orthographic view is
available looking perpendicularly at any of the inclined surfaces. Suppose a
technician desired such a view to, say, look through a hole to be drilled
perpendicularly to the surface. Such a view might be desired for calculating
clearances or for dimensioning purposes. To obtain this view without multiple
rotations requires the principles of Descriptive Geometry. The steps below describe
the use of these principles in third angle projection.

Figures one through nine.

Fig.1: Pictorial of the imaginary object that the technician wishes to image.
Fig.2: The object is imagined behind a vertical plane of projection. The angled
corner of the plane of projection is addressed later.
Fig.3: Projectors emanate parallel from all points of the object, perpendicular to
the plane of projection.
Fig.4: An image is created thereby.
Fig.5: A second, horizontal plane of projection is added, perpendicular to the
first.
Fig.6: Projectors emanate parallel from all points of the object perpendicular to
the second plane of projection.
Fig.7: An image is created thereby.
Fig.8: The third plane of projection is added, perpendicular to the previous two.
Fig.9: Projectors emanate parallel from all points of the object perpendicular to
the third plane of projection.

Figures ten through seventeen.

Fig.10: An image is created thereby.
Fig.11: The fourth plane of projection is added parallel to the chosen inclined
surface, and perforce, perpendicular to the first (Frontal) plane of projection.
Fig.12: Projectors emanate parallel from all points of the object perpendicularly
from the inclined surface, and perforce, perpendicular to the fourth (Auxiliary)
plane of projection.
Fig.13: An image is created thereby.
Fig.14-16: The various planes of projection are unfolded to be planar with the
Frontal plane of projection.
Fig.17: The final appearance of an orthographic multiview projection and which
includes an "Auxiliary view" showing the true shape of an inclined surface.
Territorial use
First-angle is used in most of the world.[5]

Third-angle projection is most commonly used in America,[6] Japan (in JIS B 0001：
2010);[7] and is preferred in Australia, as laid down in AS 1100.101—1992 6.3.3.[8]

In the UK, BS8888 9.7.2.1 allows for three different conventions for arranging
views: Labelled Views, Third Angle Projection, and First Angle Projection.

See also
Architectural drawing
Cross section (geometry)
Engineering drawing
Graphical projection
Plans (drawings)
References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this
article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Multiview orthographic projection" – news · newspapers · books ·
scholar · JSTOR (November 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template
message)
 Ingrid Carlbom, Joseph Paciorek (1978), "Planar Geometric Projections and Viewing
Transformations", ACM Computing Surveys, 10 (4): 465–502, CiteSeerX
10.1.1.532.4774, doi:10.1145/356744.356750, S2CID 708008
Ching, Frank (1985), Architectural Graphics - Second Edition, New York: Van
Norstrand Reinhold, ISBN 978-0-442-21862-1
Bertoline, Gary R. Introduction to Graphics Communications for Engineers (4th
Ed.). New York, NY. 2009
"Geometric Models - Jullien Models for Descriptive Geometry". Smithsonian
Institution. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
"Third Angle Projection". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved
December 10, 2019.
Madsen, David A.; Madsen, David P. (1 February 2016). Engineering Drawing and
Design. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781305659728 – via Google Books.
"Third Angle Projection". Musashino Art University. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
"Full text of "AS 1100.101 1992 Technical Dwgs"". archive.org.
BS 308 (Part 1) Engineering Drawing Practice BS 8888 Technical product
documentation and specification ISO 5456-2 Technical drawings – Projection methods
– Part 2: Orthographic Representations (includes the truncated cone symbol)

External links
Educational website describing the principles of first and third angle projection —
University of Limerick
Educational website describing the principles of first and third angle projection
Images tagged "Elevation" on Flickr.com
Basic Projection Method first angle vs the third angle
vte
Visualization of technical information
Categories: Graphical projections
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