dataorientering

Dataorientering is a form of orienteering that blends traditional map-and-compass navigation with data interpretation and digital mapping. Participants navigate to control points on a course, but additional tasks require reading data layers, such as land cover, elevation, or geospatial attributes, and making decisions based on this information. On-site devices may include digital maps displayed on GPS-enabled smartphones or dedicated handhelds, and electronic punching to record completion times.

History and development are tied to the adoption of mapping technology and accessible GIS tools by orienteering clubs in the Nordic countries during the 2000s. Since then, dataorientering has spread to amateur and youth events in several European countries, often alongside conventional orienteering. The format emphasizes not only speed and endurance but also data-driven decision making.

Format and rules typically follow standard orienteering practices for course boundaries and control visits, but with added data-oriented objectives. Examples include selecting a route that optimizes time given terrain data or identifying a control point by querying its data attributes. Safety guidelines and fair play rules apply as in traditional orienteering, with emphasis on staying within course limits and recording controls in order.

Equipment commonly used includes a detailed orienteering map, a compass, and an electronic device for data display or punching. Depending on the event, participants may also use GPS receivers, waterproof map cases, and backup navigation tools. Training focuses on map reading, spatial reasoning, and data literacy to improve route choice and overall performance.

See also: Orienteering; Geographic information systems; Urban orienteering; Data literacy.