A method for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object comprising the steps of: obtaining and displaying a two-dimensional image of the surface of the viewed object; determining, using the two-dimensional image, the three-dimensional coordinates in a first coordinate system of a plurality of surface points on the surface of the viewed object; selecting a plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224) on the surface of the viewed object; determining a reference surface based on the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of three or more of the plurality of surface points proximate one or more of the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224); establishing a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system based on the reference surface and the plurality of measurement points (221,222,223,224) by assigning the origin of the second coordinate system to be located proximate the average position of the three-dimensional coordinates of points on the reference surface corresponding to two or more of the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224); transforming the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of the plurality of surface points to the three-dimensional coordinates in the second coordinate system; determining a subset of the plurality of surface points that are within a region of interest on the surface of the viewed object, wherein the region of interest is based on the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224) including one or more of: surface points within a certain threshold distance from the origin of the second coordinate systems; and surface points within a certain threshold distance from the average position; and displaying a rendered three-dimensional view of the subset of the plurality of surface points in the three-dimensional coordinates of the second coordinate system and a geometric dimension within the displayed subset. obtaining and displaying a two-dimensional image of the surface of the viewed object; determining, using the two-dimensional image, the three-dimensional coordinates in a first coordinate system of a plurality of surface points on the surface of the viewed object; selecting a plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224) on the surface of the viewed object; determining a reference surface based on the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of three or more of the plurality of surface points proximate one or more of the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224); establishing a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system based on the reference surface and the plurality of measurement points (221,222,223,224) by assigning the origin of the second coordinate system to be located proximate the average position of the three-dimensional coordinates of points on the reference surface corresponding to two or more of the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224); transforming the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of the plurality of surface points to the three-dimensional coordinates in the second coordinate system; determining a subset of the plurality of surface points that are within a region of interest on the surface of the viewed object, wherein the region of interest is based on the plurality of measurement points (221, 222, 223, 224) including one or more of: surface points within a certain threshold distance from the origin of the second coordinate systems; and surface points within a certain threshold distance from the average position; and displaying a rendered three-dimensional view of the subset of the plurality of surface points in the three-dimensional coordinates of the second coordinate system and a geometric dimension within the displayed subset. surface points within a certain threshold distance from the origin of the second coordinate systems; and surface points within a certain threshold distance from the average position; and displaying a rendered three-dimensional view of the subset of the plurality of surface points in the three-dimensional coordinates of the second coordinate system and a geometric dimension within the displayed subset.