Plan (drawing)

drawings or diagrams used to describe an object

Plans are a set of two-dimensional diagrams or drawings used to describe a place or object, or to communicate building or fabrication instructions. Usually plans are drawn or printed on paper, but they can take the form of a digital file.

Views and Projections

Because plans represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane, the use of views or Graphical projections is crucial the reading of plans.

There are several projection types:

  • Orthographic projection, including:
    • Plan view or floor plan view
    • Elevation, usually a 'head-on' view of an exterior
    • Section, a cutaway view of the interior
    • Axonometric projection, including:
      • Isometric projection
      • Dimetric projection
      • Trimetric projection
  • Oblique projection, and
  • Perspective projection