Felvägar

Felvägar is a term used in Swedish cartography and road data to describe roads that are mapped as existing routes but either do not exist in reality or are not publicly accessible. The label is descriptive rather than a formal legal category, and it is mainly used by GIS professionals, map publishers, and transport agencies when quality control detects discrepancies between digital road networks and the actual ground truth.

Causes of felvägar vary. They can arise from outdated or incomplete data, errors during data merges from different sources, changes in road ownership or status (for example, a public road becoming private), or construction projects that temporarily or permanently alter accessibility. In digital navigation systems, felvägar can lead to misrouting, incorrect routing decisions, or the presentation of non-existent or closed paths as viable options.

The impact of felvägar is most felt in navigation accuracy, emergency response planning, and traffic planning. Inaccurate road data can cause delays, confusion for travelers, and misinformed infrastructure decisions. Addressing felvägar typically involves data validation, cross-referencing with official registries such as national or municipal road inventories, and field verification. Community reporting and periodic map updates also help reduce their occurrence.

In practice, felvägar highlight the importance of data quality in road networks and the need for ongoing coordination among municipalities, national mapping authorities, and mapping and navigation providers. See also road network, GIS data quality, map accuracy, and navigation systems.