This interface service provides your application with access to topographic, plain and background maps, orthophotos and property boundaries. More information under the subheading Products.
These products are open data covered by the National Land Survey open data Attribution CC 4.0 licence.
The map image services provide access to current Finnish map data for spatial data software and applications.
These services are accessible 24/7.
Contract or open interface service?
It is possible to sign a contract to use our map image services (WMS and WMTS). When the use of our interface services is based on a contract, the National Land Survey is responsible for ensuring that the service is running and accessible, as well as for providing user support. A user-ID and password are necessary to use the service. The service that is based on a contract carries a charge. Take a look at our price list.
You can use our map image services (WMTS and Vector Tiles) free of charge via our open interface. The open interface works using an API key. No user support is provided for the open interface service and the National Land Survey does not guarantee that the service is either available or accessible.
More information under the heading Become a user.
WMS, WMTS or vector tiles?
The products in map image services that are based on WMS and WMTS technology are in a raster format, that is, the maps consist of pixels. In the vector tile service, the data consists of points, lines or shapes. Raster map styles are standardised, whereas you can freely edit the presentation style of maps in vector format. For example, you can change the colour of roads, buildings or water areas and watercourses, or change the map's language from Finnish to Swedish. You need a tool to edit presentation styles.
When choosing a service, we recommend you consider the following differences:
WMS
- The pixel size of maps that are available via the WMS service can be freely chosen. This makes it easier to display and print out the map in precisely the selected scale.
- Orthophotos showing environmental destruction are only available from the WMS service.
- The service is only available by agreement.
- You can select the time period for orthophotos, orthophotos in colour are available from 2008 and historic aerial photographs from the 1930s onwards.
WMTS
- Better performance than in the WMS-based service.
- The agreement-based WMTS service has the largest product range.
- The service supports the Finnish map tile models that comply with the JHS180-recommendation, ETRS-TM35FIN (all products) and ETRS-GK (some products).
- Some products are also available in the global Web Mercator tile system (EPSG:3857) that is common in several web mapping applications.
- Available as a contract-based or open service (please note that the open service has a smaller product range and fewer zoom levels).
Vector Tiles
- You need tools to modify the presentation style.
- Modifying the presentation style is fast because you do not need to reload the map data.
- Vector tile maps are always sharp and you can quickly move on the map or change the scale of the map.
- You can search for features using attribute data.
- You can easily make different language versions of maps.
- Currently only the open service is available.
A short presentation video of the Map image service (WMTS) can be found on the National Land Survey's YouTube channel.
The Map image service (Vector tiles) has a demo app, where you can take a look at our data materials and examples of modified presentation styles. There's also a presentation video on our YouTube channel.