3D ePortfolios: Challenges and Opportunities for the Display of Interactive Models of Building Designs

Architects conceive buildings as three dimensional forms, often developing their designs using 3D CAD [Computer Aided Design] or visualization software. Yet their designs are usually presented to each other and to their clients as two dimensional artifacts: such as images or movies created from their CAD models. In computing, interactive three dimensional worlds are ubiquitous, in particular in the fields of Gaming and Social Networking involving MUVEs [Multi-User Virtual Environments] such as Second Life.This work explores the options available to students, whose work is primarily designed in three dimensions, to present their work digitally through 3D ePortfolios. It makes recommendations from a range of possible solutions as to the most suitable for the implementation of online ePortfolios which contain interactive models of building designs.