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Changelog

Development progress and improvements in Create GBM

April 2026

R8 (2026).04.07FIX
Tablet/mobile guidance and map-layer UI adjustments
  • • Repositioned STEP 1/2/3 guidance overlays upward so buttons remain easy to tap on tablet and smartphone screens.
  • • Fixed the tablet map-layer switcher UI so the dropdown menu opens correctly.
  • • Added "Rekichizu" (historical map overlay tool) to the Knowledge Repository — usable from elementary through specialist level.
R8 (2026).04.05FIX
Coastline time machine reliability improvements and map display fixes
  • • Fixed water level slider responsiveness for smooth operation during rapid changes.
  • • Resolved global map display issues outside Japan with reliable CartoDB base layer.
  • • Updated credits in 3 languages to reflect CartoDB (OSM) base with GSI overlays for Japan mainland.
3D white map editor touch selection improvements
  • • Fixed tablet and smartphone touch input for region selection.
  • • Reworked touch handling to support one-finger selection with two-finger pan/zoom.
  • • Adjusted guidance overlay to not block map interaction.
Knowledge Repository update
  • • Added "Rekijin Net" (Japanese history encyclopedia) — accessible from elementary school level, with tutorial video link. Set as a featured resource.
R8 (2026).04.04FIX
Coastline simulator map update and heritage UI enhancements
  • • Rolled out a hybrid basemap: global OpenStreetMap coverage with high-detail GSI hillshade/pale overlay limited to mainland Japan.
  • • Improved global map readability while preserving familiar high-resolution terrain expression in Japan.
  • • Reorganized floating POI explanations after filter removal and expanded GPT-suggested global coastal heritage candidates with richer metadata.
  • • Added functional-type legend display for coastal heritage points while keeping all POIs visible by default.
R8 (2026).04.01NEW
Public release of the 3D white map editor
  • • Enabled direct browser-based editing of 3D white maps overlaid with OpenStreetMap water systems.
  • • Supports map editing with area selection, road-line drawing, heritage stamps, and administrative boundary display.
  • • Makes terrain characteristics visible with slope-zone and elevation-zone coloring.
  • • Supports export in 3MF / GLB / PNG / STL / OBJ formats.
  • • Enables 3D printer fabrication simulation (line width / disappearance checks).

January 2026

R8 (2026).01.30
Completion of the news release display feature and major update to "How to Create?" content
  • • Implemented a news ticker on the top page (automatic switching and marquee scrolling supported).
  • • Added a new announcements list page (3-language support).
  • • Added link buttons to external articles.
  • • Added an announcements link to the footer.
  • • Changed the navbar language switcher to CSS flag icons for cross-platform support.
  • • Added two multi-color GBM tutorial videos to "How to Create?" (how to use GSI maps and Blender introduction).
  • • Introduced planned advanced technologies including AR integration, generative AI integration, layer features, and educational field integration.
  • • Refreshed the top page "How to Create?" section into a carousel format.
R8 (2026).01.27
3-language support and 3D terrain viewer feature additions
  • • Added 3-language support: Japanese, English, and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan).
  • • Implemented a feature in the 3D terrain viewer that allows movement in a first-person-like view by tilting a tablet or smartphone.
  • • Added the Kanazawa-area 3D terrain viewer: explore the castle town of Kaga Hyakumangoku between the Sai and Asano rivers.
R8 (2026).01.26
New Fukuoka-area 3D terrain viewer added
  • • Made 3D terrain data for the Fukuoka area explorable in the browser.
  • • Implemented two viewpoints: Giant Mode (bird's-eye view) and Exploration Mode (first-person view).
  • • Added a "discovery learning" feature to reveal microtopography by changing the sun angle.
  • • Added operation guides for desktop, smartphone, and tablet users.
  • • Added a MakerWorld download link for 3D-print data.
R8 (2026).01.18
  • • Visualization of seasonal winds, jet streams, and ocean currents.
R8 (2026).01.15
  • • Official public release of the Create GBM portal site.
  • • Completion of the privacy policy (Google AdSense support and explanation of operating costs for generative AI features).
R8 (2026).01.14
  • • Completion of the top page.
  • • Expanded and revised the Knowledge Repository.
  • • Completion of "What Questions to Ask?".
R8 (2026).01.13
Completion of the Coastline Time Machine
  • • Interactively experience 15,000 years of sea-level change, from the Jomon transgression (+5m) to the Ice Age (-120m).
  • • Visualizes coastline changes with 15 era presets, from the Paleolithic period to the present.
  • • Displays POIs (points of interest) for major archaeological sites and shrines in Japan.
  • • Supports ancient global landforms such as Doggerland, Sundaland, and the Bering Land Bridge.
  • • Improves learning effects with inquiry hints and question prompts.
R8 (2026).01.12
Creation of the Knowledge Repository: content organized by level up to specialists
  • • Inquiry-focused development concept emphasizing intuitive understanding and prompting questions.
  • • Prepared comparisons of six types of maps as entry points for inquiry.
  • • Expanded content pages for 3D terrain models (GBM).
  • • Expanded content pages for water-system data and related themes.
  • • Enhanced the Knowledge Repository by organizing geography- and history-related links by level, from elementary learners to specialists.
Implementation of SEO/GEO optimization and robots/sitemap.xml
  • • Optimized for search engines and generative AI.
R8 (2026).01.11
Completion of water-system data display content
  • • Saga City
  • • Osaka City
  • • Kurashiki City
  • • Kofu City
  • • Nagoya City
  • • Takamatsu City
  • • Niigata City
  • • Kushiro City
  • • Tokyo
  • • Kanazawa City
  • • Matsue City
  • • Hiroshima City
Release of the Create GBM test site
R8 (2026).01.07
Implementation of water-system data display content
Implementation of generative AI features
R8 (2026).01.04
Implementation of map features

Development Policy

Create GBM is a history-and-geography education platform that utilizes 3D terrain models (GBM) and continues to improve and expand its functions. Through map expressions that spark intuitive ideas simply by looking,and through GIS-based data visualization, it offers ideas for problem-finding and inquiry-based learning.
By providing highly reliable data and information and continuously improving UI/UX,we aim to help users explore history and geography more intuitively.

December 2025

R7 (2025).12.26
Start of building the Create GBM portal site