I’m not usually write anything in English. Mainly because my audience is Finnish speaking and there is a lot of good GIS blogs in English already. However, I decide to write something in English, because of National Land Survey Data opening on 1st of May, 2012.

Background

Finnish public sector is open by definition: you can get almost every document or database, if you just ask. But as in many European countries, you have to pay about data. Not memos or articles, but like road network, maps, statistics etc.

Last December, everything changed. National Land Survey of Finland (later on NLS) decided to open all their topographic information. And when I say all, I mean ALL: topographic database (from scale 1:20k), raster maps, aerial imagery, LIDAR data etc. I have estimated that approximately 10 terabytes of geographic information was released. Antti Poikola describe last December in his post: ”Victory!! – Finnish map data and aerial photographs will be opened”

Release on 1st of May, 2012

Well, geographic information is now free in Finland. There is 2 ways to get this information: order it from NLS in USB-drive (pay) or download via website (free). NLS has promise to open website on 3rd of May, 7th of May, 9th of May. Topograhic database (around 9.5 GB) will cost 540 EUR (+taxes [23%]). Well, this is quite expensive for smaller companies and individuals.

My company, Gispo Ltd, decides to order necessary topographic information and share it freely to everybody. We got USB sticks (32 GB) and one USB disk (500 GB) on Friday 4th of May. With OpenStreetMap activists we presumed that torrent will be best tool to share this information.

Here are the links to download NLS Topograhic information:

Topographic database
Size of download: 9,8 GB
Map sheets: TM35-grid : Half of 1:25 000 sheet (12 x 12 km), PDF index map, 15.8 MB
File format: shapefile

Road network with addresses
Size of download: 434 MB
Map sheets: TM35-grid: 1:100 00 sheet (48 x 96 km), PDF index map, 15.8 MB
File format: shapefile

Basic map raster 1:20 000 
Size of download: 29,6 GB
Map sheets: TM35-grid : Half of 1:25 000 sheet (12 x 12 km), PDF index map, 15.8 MB
File format:TIFF

Warning: this is raw data! You have to experienced Finnish reading GIS person to understand data structures. Basically all necessary documentation is in Finnish (or in Swedish 😉 )

But because crowed-sourcing is most fasting method, you can now download also PostGIS dumps, if needed:

Topographic database
Size of download: 9,8 GB
Covering whole Finland in n layers
File format: PostGIS dumpfile

Road network with addresses
Size of download: 434 MB
Covering whole Finland in n layers
File format: PostGIS dumpfile

Download and share!

What’s next

I presume Spatialite files are under a work, some WMS / WCS / WFS services are coming. Lidar data will be released on 9th of May, orthophotos on 14th of May and DEMs on 4th of June. So, we will be very busy!

If you have any questions or challenges to use data, please comment or send email (or visit in Finland 😉 )