Drawing technique used in “Zigezyôsin” Usa-village map drawn in 1750 was analyzed by investigating azimuth, scale denominator and treatments of similar triangles in the map using newly developed method. When Usa-village was surveyed, it is estimated that the surveyors obtained highly accurate survey data and drew a survey map. Then they divided this map into component parts such as similar triangles or azimuth lines. Finally, by reconstructing these parts adding to each of them different operation of rotation and of expansion or reduction, they fitted the survey results to the given village borders and drew a new map. With this technique, they connected the Usa-village map with the neighbor village maps, like a jigsaw puzzle.

The author developed a map website for geography education and examined its effectiveness. We can put free map services provided through the internet in our website by using web maps API. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan （GSI） started the “Digital Japan Web System” in 2003 and its new version named “GSI Tiles” has been provided since 2013. With this service, web developers can put GSI's topographical map images in their web pages and add information to the maps. GSI's topographical map contains the contour lines, vegetation information and so on, and it is suitable to geography education. The author used Google Maps API, Yahoo ! Maps API, OpenLayers and Leaflet with GSI Tiles and other tile map services to develop a map website and customized maps to suit the educational use. In this website, content creators can put markers on the map, and photo or text information will appear when a user clicks a marker. Users can also change map view（topographical map, contour map, road map or aerial photo）.

In this study, map-based educational resources for high school students to study landforms were created. Some famous places （e.g. river terraces in Numata and alluvial fans in Yoro） often appear in Japanese geography textbooks, and the author intended to make educational resources to correspond to the case studies in textbooks. If you access this website, you can see markers on the map. When a marker icon is clicked, a photo or information of this place appears. Students can compare the map expression and real landscape with this digital resource, and they learn how to read a topographical map. The author, who teaches geography in a school, introduced this educational resource in his class for a homework tool, and assigned a report after the virtual field trip. Students said that it was easy to use this digital resource and useful to understand and review the learning contents.

This website can be accessed via internet at any school in Japan. And furthermore, anyone can open similar website because this website is constructed with free web map services. This may contribute to improve geography education.

The M6.3 earthquake in Awaji Island on April 13, 2013 caused liquefaction in many places on artificially reclaimed lands in the bay area of Shizuki district, Awaji City. The occurrences of sand boils and structural damages（cracks in roads and settlement and tilt of structure） due to the liquefaction were identified at these reclaimed lands by field survey and Google Earth images. The occurrences of liquefaction were not observed at natural ground（alluvial lowland） in the study area. The documentary records, old edition topographical maps and aerial photographs indicate that the liquefaction sites are located at the reclaimed land constructed after 1970s with soil dredged from seabed deposits near the shores, and a number of these sits are concentrated in the reclaimed land constructed during 1970s and the early 1980s.

In recent years, people can access topographical and geological information rapidly and easily with the help of information technologies. However, it is difficult to recognize three dimensional distribution of topographical and geological structure from non-three-dimension maps. To improve the situation, Shibahara established several techniques of building up finely-detailed 3D objects. They are molded terrain miniatures produced by rapid prototyping and projection mapping calibration techniques. Each miniature has extremely small contours on the surface, and these contours are used as markers for the calibration of projection mapping. After the calibration, several raster images such as topographical map, geological map and bedrock distributions are also projected. These miniatures can be used for outreach and research activities in museums, schools, geoparks, etc.

Furthermore, Shibahara have developed multilayered 3D miniatures in order to visualize subsurface geological information．To build up this model, a number of geological datasets, such as borehole datasets, 3D subsurface structure model published by Geological Survey of Japan（GSJ）are used for modeling interior structure of the miniature.

These miniatures can be used not only for display but also for palpation（i.e., touch observation） of structures by visitors. Palpation is particularly suitable for visually impaired users.

We also have operation examples of these miniatures coupled with GIS, and some other visualization techniques.

This paper presents some operation examples of finely detailed 3D miniatures combined with science TV programs, and educational materials. In the center of the operation system is a molded terrain miniature produced by rapid prototyping and projection mapping calibration methods.

In January 2015, our idea was utilized in a science TV program named “The hidden Tokyo unveiled by the investigation of undulated landform”. In this TV program, we created a 3.0x3.0 （m） scale miniature, and high-resolution projection mapping contents. This operative system was enabled by legitimate technology transfer of a patent application （patent publication number 2014-032304）. To visualize the topographical and geological features, and the history of the land development of Tokyo, we produced several pictures for projection mapping such as satellite images, traffic network, simulation results of transgression and regression from 120 000 years ago to 6000 years ago. The urban developments planned in the Edo period, Meiji period, after World War II, and today were also visualized by projection mapping. We used three calibration patterns to adjust the mapping operation.

This paper also reports on the cooperation of a handicraft kit and projection mapping miniatures. It was conducted in a scientific event named “Let's make Mt. Tsukuba and learn rapid prototyping” in Tsukuba EXPO center. In this event, each participant built up a layered miniature of Mt. Tsukuba. After completing the miniature, s/he projected topographical and geological maps on it and examined the geological features around Mt. Tsukuba.

In addition, a teaching material called “sand painting of 3D geological map series” was produced. It is a pseudo-3D geological map printed on the glue sheet, and the user can remove each geological unit separately along the cuts from the printed paper. After removal, the user can scatter several kinds of colored sand on the glue sheet, and the sand will stick onto the sheet, with each unit having its own color now. After completing the 3D sand paint, the user can compare the sand paint and the projection mapped miniature to recognize the topography and geology three-dimensionally. We also provided “coloring sheet of 3D geological map series” with the same method. These teaching materials can be used by anyone from adults to a preschool child.

Although rapid prototyping and projection mapping are a promising way of visualizing several kinds of information, it is difficult to produce attractive and intelligent contents without sustained effort by providers. As shown in this paper, science TV programs and teaching materials combined with finely detailed 3D miniatures will make it significantly easier to receive natural science information.

We have intended to popularize geological maps, which are restricted professional uses presently. Two geologists, a map designer, and a print coordinator worked together to publish two maps at Asama Volcano and five maps in Izu Peninsula. They are easy to read for everyone because topographic relief is used as a base map. Every map was finished beautiful enough you want to exhibit it on the walls. We sell those maps not only at local shops but through the Internet for 500 yen, a surprisingly lower price than existing geological maps.