> The size of this data set, which is continuously updated and expanded, is now at three petabytes (and growing)
You're not downloading that much data at installation time, so I assume there's a crucial online component where stuff gets streamed in (partially simulated?) from the server, and your computer is just handling what's currently in view. That seems much more feasible.
Seems like base geometry with base textures are on local hard drive, beyond that higher resolution textures are streamed from cloud, down to 3cm precision, insane.
You're not downloading that much data at installation time, so I assume there's a crucial online component where stuff gets streamed in (partially simulated?) from the server, and your computer is just handling what's currently in view. That seems much more feasible.