paikkatieto

Paikkatieto, literally “location information” in Finnish, refers to geospatial information about places, features, and phenomena on the Earth’s surface. It combines spatial geometry with descriptive attributes and is used to analyze locations, distances, networks, and spatial relationships. In practice, paikkatieto is collected, stored, and distributed as digital maps and datasets within geographic information systems (GIS).

Typical paikkatieto datasets include vector features (points, lines, polygons), raster imagery such as satellite or aerial photos, and elevation models, often accompanied by metadata describing source, quality, scale, and licensing. Data are commonly accessed through standard formats and services that enable interoperability, including web services such as those following Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) specifications and ISO metadata conventions. Coordinate reference systems used in paikkatieto include ETRS89-based schemes and Finland-specific local systems.

In Finland, paikkatieto is coordinated through national initiatives that provide centralized access to public sector data. The Paikkatietoikkuna is the primary public geoportal offering map viewing, data downloads, and service-based access to a wide range of datasets. The paikkatieto framework aligns with the EU INSPIRE directive, which promotes interoperable, EU-wide access to spatial data, while individual datasets retain varying licenses and usage terms.

Applications of paikkatieto span urban planning, environmental monitoring, infrastructure management, emergency response, transportation, and academic research. The domain emphasizes openness where feasible, with many datasets available as open data under clear reuse conditions, subject to attribution and licensing.

Overall, paikkatieto provides foundational spatial information for understanding and managing space in Finland, supporting informed decision-making across public, private, and research sectors.