maanmittauslaitos

Maanmittauslaitos, or the Finnish Geospatial Authority, is a Finnish government agency that oversees land surveying, cadastral administration, and the production and distribution of geospatial information. It maintains the official cadastral register and coordinates property formation, and it issues documents related to land ownership and boundaries. The agency also collects, processes, and distributes geospatial data, including topographic maps and the national geodetic reference frame.

Its work supports land use planning, infrastructure, natural resources management, and emergency response by providing reliable, up-to-date spatial data to public authorities, businesses, researchers, and citizens. The agency offers online services and an open data portal that provides free access to many datasets and map services.

Administrative structure: The Maanmittauslaitos operates under the Finnish government and conducts its duties through regional offices across Finland. It collaborates with other authorities, municipalities, and private sector partners to maintain national geospatial infrastructure and to promote interoperability and data sharing.

History: The agency has roots in Finland's long tradition of land measurement and cartography, evolving into the central national authority for land and map information. Its mandate extends to cadastral matters, property formation, and ensuring legal certainty in land transactions.