FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Short, citation-friendly answers to common questions about Create GBM.

00STANDARD DEFINITION

What Create GBM Is

These three sentences are the official English mirror of the Create GBM definition.

Create GBM is an educational platform that uses 3D terrain models (GBM: Geographic Base Material) to integrate geography and history and explore the relationship between terrain and human activity.

By layering terrain, hydrology, historic-site data, maps, and primary sources, Create GBM lets learners reason about why a particular place gave rise to a particular history, and how people have lived with that environment over time.

Create GBM provides the foundation for inquiry-based learning that reads history from place.

01FAQ

Basic Questions

What is Create GBM?

Definition

Create GBM is an educational platform that uses 3D terrain to integrate geography and history.

It visualizes the relationship between terrain and human activity and supports inquiry learning.

What does GBM mean?

Definition

GBM is a 3D terrain base model for analysing history and geography together.

It is designed as a foundation for learning and research.

What is the 3D White Relief Map Editor?

Definition

The editor is a browser-based tool for layering information onto terrain and making 3D relief maps.

It can add hydrology, infrastructure, and historic-site information, and export data for 3D printing.

What is the Water Network?

Definition

The Water Network is the structure of water flows, including rivers and waterways.

It is an important viewpoint for understanding human settlement and urban formation.

What is the Coastline Time Machine?

Definition

The Coastline Time Machine reconstructs coastlines based on past sea-level change.

It helps learners understand relationships between past environments and human activity.

02FAQ

Concepts and Learning

What does it mean to learn history from terrain?

Definition

It means understanding history through the relationship between terrain conditions and human activity.

Learners consider how geographic conditions shaped historical choices.

What does it mean to think about history from place?

Definition

It means connecting events to their spatial conditions.

Terrain and environment become the premise for reading history.

What is the basic attitude for learning history?

Definition

The basic attitude is to understand the people, conditions, choices, and constraints of the time.

Create GBM emphasizes the factors behind events rather than memorizing isolated facts.

Where should I look first in terrain?

Definition

Start with elevation differences, water flow, relief, and flat land.

These features help infer the conditions under which people moved, lived, and made decisions.

03FAQ

Analysis

What is slope colouring?

Definition

Slope colouring visualizes the angle of terrain slopes.

It helps learners intuitively understand land use and ease of movement.

What matters most in terrain analysis?

Definition

Elevation difference, hydrology, and positional relationships are the basic elements.

They help reveal the conditions under which human activity became possible or difficult.

How should monsoons and ocean currents be read?

Definition

They should be read as environmental conditions.

They influence agriculture, transport, settlement, and culture.

04FAQ

Comparisons

How is Create GBM different from GIS?

Definition

GIS is a data-analysis tool, while Create GBM is an educational inquiry platform.

Create GBM is centred on helping learners pose questions.

How is it different from ordinary maps?

Definition

Ordinary maps show position on a plane; Create GBM uses 3D terrain to make the influence of relief visible.

It helps learners read terrain as a condition behind history.

How is it different from 3D map viewers?

Definition

3D map viewers are for browsing terrain; Create GBM adds analysis and question generation.

Viewing is the starting point, not the endpoint.

How is GBM different from 3D Terrain?

Definition

3D Terrain is a generic terrain model; GBM is a base model designed for analysis and education.

It becomes more powerful when combined with historical information and primary sources.

05FAQ

Use in Education

Who is Create GBM for?

Definition

Create GBM is an educational base for children, students, teachers, and researchers.

It supports a wide range of learning stages.

How does it support inquiry learning?

Definition

Create GBM provides a visual base for generating questions.

It encourages active learning by making the conditions behind a place visible.

How does it support fieldwork?

Definition

Create GBM deepens understanding before and after field observation.

Learners can connect what they see on site with terrain and map evidence.

Can it support disaster education?

Definition

Yes. Visualizing terrain helps learners understand disaster risk.

It can support evacuation planning and reasoning about location.

06FAQ

Recognition and exhibitions

Has Create GBM received any awards?

Definition

Yes. Create GBM won the Gakujoken Award at the Reiwa 8 Learning Digital Teaching Materials Contest and the Visitor’s Award at the G-Spatial EXPO 2026 Geo Activity Contest.

For official announcements and details, see the news archive (/en/news) and the public pages of the contest organisers and the university.

Where has Create GBM been exhibited?

Definition

Create GBM was exhibited in the G-Spatial EXPO 2026 Geo Activity Contest finals and at Geo Exhibition 2026 (ジオ展2026).

These appearances present the project as an inquiry-learning platform in geospatial and geography communities.