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The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part B5. Beijing 2008 
“Machiya VR Generation Macro.” In addition, Yamahoko 
floats were placed on Shijo Street in order to reconstruct Gion 
Festival at different times. The figure shows that Yamahoko 
floats look as very big objects in 1910’s though they look 
smaller at present surrounded by high buildings. The visible 
ranges of mountains were much greater in older times. 
Figure 13. Landscape changes of Gion Festival 
(left: in 1910s, right: at present) 
4.3 Kyoto in early Edo era 
Kanei-go-Manji-mae-Rakuchu-Ezu, drawn in 1640’s and 
presently owned by Kyoto University, is known as a 
considerably accurate map of Kyoto. It has the size of 636cm 
by 282cm and shows names of towns and streets, land use, 
widths of streets, widths and lengths of blocks and major 
building lots and names of landowners. The map was scanned, 
and rectified to fit to the modem map. After these geometrical 
adjustments, streets, blocks and major building lots were 
traced, and their attribute data were input on a 2D-GIS system. 
Using the GIS database 3D reconstruction of Kyoto in 17th 
century was conducted (Figure 14). 
N 
Figure 14. Land use map of Kyoto in 1640’s and the 
reconstructed landscapes in the era 
(Landscape images on the right are the views from the points 
of a), b), and c) in the map. Source: Kyoto University Library). 
4.4 Virtual Heian-kyo 
When Kyoto was founded in A.D. 794 as the capital of Japan, 
the city was called Heian-kyo (Heian capital). The authors 
have started the reconstruction of Heian-kyo, based on 
available historical documents and information. The 
topographical data has been reconstructed using excavation and 
geological and archaeological results. Street blocks and 
buildings have been modeled using 3D CAD based on blue 
prints for miniature model of Heian-kyo, which was made by 
the Kyoto City celebrating its 1200th anniversary. The 3D 
models have been automatically located according to the land 
use map of that time (Figure 15). 
Figure 15. 3D Reconstruction of Heian-kyo 
5. VIRTUAL KYOTO ON THE WEB 
With the rapid expansion of the broadband communication 
environment through the world, the transmission of 3D city 
models and associating information on the internet is gaining 
reality. However, some relatively narrow broadband 
communication environments such as DSL, which is popular in 
Japan, cannot smoothly transmit a great amount of 3D data. 
To solve the problem, the authors have employed a Web3D- 
GIS system called UrbanViewer for Web™ (CAD Center Co., 
Ltd.), that makes possible transmission and reception of a great 
amount of urban information with interactive manipulation of 
detailed 3D city models linked with GIS on ordinary internet 
infrastructure such as DSL. New techniques have been 
developed for the system, including; (a) reduction of data, (b) 
level of detail (LOD) and streaming, and (c) linkage between 
3D city model and GIS. 
When internet users visit the website of Virtual Kyoto 
provided by Ritsumeikan University, and download 
UrbanViewer for Web™, they can enjoy 3D-GIS of Kyoto at 
present as well as in the past in interactive ways. It provides