Definition
An elevation drawing is a flat, scaled view of one side of a building, showing it as if you were looking straight at that face from the outside. Unlike a floor plan, which looks down from above, an elevation shows the vertical surfaces, such as walls, windows, doors, and rooflines.
Elevation drawings help everyone understand how a building will look from the outside and how tall its features are. They are a standard part of architectural and construction documentation.
In simple terms, an elevation drawing is a straight-on picture of one face of a building, drawn accurately to scale.
How It Works
An elevation is drawn by projecting the vertical face of a building onto a flat plane, keeping everything to a consistent scale. Each side of a building typically has its own elevation, often labelled by direction, such as north or south, or by the face it shows, such as front or rear.
Elevations show heights, proportions, materials, and the placement of features like openings. When produced from reality capture, a point cloud of an existing building can be sliced and traced to create accurate elevations of the structure as it really stands.
Applications
Elevation drawings are used in architecture, construction, renovation, and planning. They communicate a building’s external appearance, support design approvals, guide construction, and document existing facades. For heritage and refurbishment projects, scan-based elevations capture the true condition of a building.
Benefits
- Clear view of a building’s external appearance.
- Accurate representation of heights and proportions.
- Essential for design approval and construction.
- Useful for documenting existing facades.
- Highly accurate when created from scan data.
Related Terms
- Floor Plan
- Section Drawing
- As-Built Drawings
- Scan to Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an elevation drawing used for?
It is used to show and communicate the external appearance of a building’s faces, supporting design, approvals, and construction.
What is the difference between a plan and an elevation?
A plan is a top-down view of a layout, while an elevation is a straight-on view of a vertical face of the building.
How many elevations does a building have?
Usually one for each main face, often four, though complex buildings may need more to show every side.
Can elevations be made from laser scans?
Yes. A point cloud of an existing building can be used to produce accurate elevation drawings of its facades.
About Track3D
Track3D helps teams turn laser scans into accurate elevations, plans, and digital twins. Learn more at Track3D.
