GIStietokantaan

GIStietokantaan is a Finnish term used in geographic information systems to describe the storage and management of geographic data in a database. The approach contrasts with file-based GIS data stores and emphasizes centralized, queryable, and scalable storage.

A GIS database typically stores vector data (points, lines, polygons) and raster data, along with spatial attributes and metadata. It relies on a relational or multi-model DBMS with a spatial extension, such as PostgreSQL with PostGIS, SQLite with SpatiaLite, Oracle Spatial, or SQL Server with its geometry types. Spatial data are encoded in geometry or geography types, with coordinate reference systems, topologies, and spatial indexes (for example GiST indexes in PostGIS) to support efficient queries and analyses.

Interoperability relies on standards and formats from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and international standards for metadata and data exchange, such as ISO 191xx and INSPIRE. Common exchange formats include WKT, WKB, GML, and services like WMS and WFS.

In practice, GIStietokantaan involves data governance, metadata creation, access control, and licensing. Workflows include data import, validation, versioning, and distribution to downstream systems and applications, such as mapping portals or analysis tools.

In Finland, GIS databases are used by municipal authorities and national agencies for urban planning, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure management. The term GIStietokantaan reflects a broader shift toward centralized, interoperable spatial data repositories.