Tukikartta

Tukikartta is a term used in Finnish cartography and GIS to describe a base map or reference map that provides geographic context for additional data layers. It serves as a stable foundation on which thematic information—such as land use, demographics, or infrastructure—can be overlaid and analyzed. The concept is closely related to, and in many contexts overlaps with, the base map (peruskartta) used in spatial planning.

A tukikartta typically includes general geographic features such as topography, administrative boundaries, transportation networks, hydrography, and place names. The level of detail and the exact content depend on the map’s scale and purpose. In digital workflows, tukikartta is often delivered as a base layer in vector or raster formats and is used across various GIS applications. It is commonly provided in standardized coordinate reference systems to ensure compatibility with other spatial data.

Production and custodianship of tukikartta are usually the responsibility of national, regional, or local mapping authorities, such as a country’s national land survey or equivalent agency. In Finland, official base layers are produced and maintained by the national authorities and distributed for public and professional use. Digital tukikarttas are frequently integrated into geographic information infrastructures and may be made available as web services or downloadable datasets, adhering to relevant standards and interoperability requirements, including INSPIRE in the European context.

See also: base map, peruskartta, geographic information system, GIS data standards, INSPIRE, Maanmittauslaitos.