Data format for terrain

Hello,

I was thinking about data formates which can be used for
large terrains like those, used in games like "Gothic"
or "The Elder Scrolls Oblivion". Of course, a heightmap
might be a good solution to store terrain data but the
disadvantage of a heightmap is that you don't have too
much control over the terrain. Another disadvantage is
that one cannot store additional information like normal
maps or other objects which are only used for small parts =

of the terrain (e.g. water surfaces, trees, buildings, etc) =

inside the heightmap.

A different approach would be to use a file format which
stores the heightmap data and all additional data in one
file.

A third approach would be not to use a heightmap at all.
Instead one could model the whole terrain using 3D Studio
or something similar. Of course, this would use lots of
memory since the model file could become extremely lage
(consider a world like the one of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. which
is incredibly large).

So, what do you think?

MfG
Michael
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