The "LandXML" initiative was aimed at providing a non-proprietary data standard used for storing project information and for transferring it across multiple software packages. Backed up by a large consortium of partners including Autodesk, Inc., the project resulted in high quality surface data models that enable photorealistic rendering and animations.

The DDF file type is a Special Data Transfer Standard Format for surface grids. It is one of the most popular large area surface file formats used by multiple private organizations and by the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). Surface data saved in DDF format is shared across multiple files with the same extension and used to construct a regularly spaced grid of elevation points needed for terrain rendering.