Abstract
This paper described the development process of a WebGIS-based environmental information system for public participation in the Lake Biwa watershed. As a result, many citizens' monitoring data had been shared with the WebGIS, but its small use was found on their own initiative. Through action research, in order to obtain the better advantage of GIS tools in environmental improvement activities, not only the system development-oriented, but also it is important to make arrangements for letting them know these tools will help their activities. The improvement based on the above-mentioned points affected its higher use on their own initiative.
