Terrain System

Terrain System

Create expansive outdoor environments with real-time terrain editing, heightmap import, and multi-layer materials.

Features

Creating Terrain

1. Add Terrain Component — Add to a GameObject in your scene
2. Set Size — Define terrain dimensions in the inspector
3. Edit — Use sculpting tools to shape the terrain
4. Paint — Apply multiple materials using splatmaps or brush tools

Heightmap Import

Import from external tools:

• Export 16-bit heightmap from World Machine, GeoGen, or Gaia


• Drag into terrain import dialog


• Adjust scale and offset

Terrain Materials

Multi-layer PBR material system:

• Up to 32 unique materials per terrain


• Height-based blending between materials


• Splatmap import for precise material placement


• Anti-tiling for natural texture variation

Material Setup

// Access terrain materials at runtime
var terrain = Components.Get<Terrain>();

// Get/set material at position
var materialIndex = terrain.GetMaterialIndexAt(worldPosition);
terrain.SetMaterialAt(worldPosition, newMaterialIndex);

Foliage System

Scatter vegetation across terrain:

• Grass — Billboard or mesh-based grass


• Scatter Meshes — Rocks, debris, small details


• Trees — Impostor and mesh LOD system


• Density based on slope, height, and material rules

Physics Integration

Terrain collides with physics objects automatically:

• Physics material per terrain material


• Footstep sounds via surface properties


• Bounciness, friction from material definitions

NavMesh Generation

Terrain automatically contributes to NavMesh:

• Walkable areas based on slope


• Respects holes and obstacles


• Dynamic updates when terrain changes

Code API

public class TerrainManager : Component
{
    [RequireComponent]
    public Terrain Terrain { get; set; }
    
    void ModifyTerrain()
    {
        // Sculpt at position
        Terrain.SculptAt(worldPosition, radius, strength, brushShape);
        
        // Paint material
        Terrain.PaintAt(worldPosition, radius, materialIndex, opacity);
        
        // Get height at position
        float height = Terrain.GetHeightAt(worldPosition);
        
        // Check if position is on terrain
        bool onTerrain = Terrain.IsPointOnTerrain(worldPosition);
    }
}

Performance Considerations

• Terrain uses chunked LOD system
• Distant chunks render at lower resolution
• Foliage uses distance culling
• Physics mesh is simplified for distant areas