Maastotietoa

Maastotietoa is a term used to describe the body of geographic information that characterizes the physical surface and related features of a given area. It covers elements such as elevation and terrain shape, land cover and land use, hydrography, and infrastructure, and is used for analysis, planning, and decision making across sectors like urban development, forestry, environment, and safety.

The data components of maastotietoa typically include digital elevation models (DEMs or DTMs), topographic maps, orthophotos, land-use or land-cover maps, hydrographic networks, and information on geology, soils, vegetation, and built structures (roads, railways, buildings). These data portray the terrain, natural resources, and human infrastructure that define an area.

Data are generated from multiple sources, including field surveys, aerial photography, LiDAR, satellite imagery, and official registries. National and regional mapping authorities often produce and maintain maastotietoa, and much of it is available for public use as open data or through licensed access.

Formats and standards for maastotietoa emphasize interoperability and reuse. Common GIS formats include GeoTIFF, Shapefile, GeoJSON, and Geospatial databases, while coordinate reference systems used in many regions include national and European standards such as ETRS-TM35FIN. International and European frameworks, such as the INSPIRE directive, promote harmonization of geospatial data.

Access and usage of maastotietoa occur via GIS platforms, data portals, and mapping services. It supports urban planning, infrastructure design, environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and outdoor activities, with licensing varying by dataset and provider.