Karttatasolla

Karttatasolla is a Finnish term used in cartography and geographic information systems (GIS) to indicate the location or context of data on a map layer. It is not a standalone concept with a separate definition, but a locative form formed from kartta (map) and taso (layer) with the adessive suffix -lla, meaning “on the map layer.”

In Finnish technical usage, karttatasolla functions as a descriptive phrase rather than a noun. It helps distinguish which layer or thematic stratum a dataset, feature, or visualization belongs to or should be displayed on. For example, analysts or documentation writers may refer to data being visible or applicable “karttatasolla” within a given map project, or use the term to specify where certain annotations or symbology should appear. The phrase is particularly common in discussions of multi-layer maps, where base layers, thematic layers, and overlays each occupy different karttatasot.

Relation to other terms is straightforward. The root concept is karttataso, meaning “map layer,” with karttatasolla describing location or applicability on that layer. Plural forms exist as karttatasot, and the broader GIS vocabulary includes related terms such as karttavarasto (map repository) and karttapalvelu (map service).

Overall, karttatasolla reflects Finnish GIS terminology’s tendency to form precise locative expressions from compound nouns, enabling clear reference to how data and visuals are organized across multiple map layers.