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Background map (raster)

The Background map is a dataset product series in raster format that depicts the whole of Finland and that is meant for web use as a background material for thematic data. Its key objects are road names, roads and railways, buildings and constructions, administrative borders, geographical names, waterways, land use and addresses of buildings (from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency).

The product belongs to the open data of the National Land Survey of Finland.

Purpose:

The Background map is applicable to be used, for instance, to present the location of features in an online service. The product is applicable to be used at scales ranging from 1:2,500–1:10 million. By completing the dataset with the address road network in vector format and geographic names the user can also compile address-based positioning and route search applications.

Geographic location
Entire Finland
Reference system
ETRS89 / TM35FIN(E,N) (EPSG:3067)
Scale
5000
10000
20000
40000
80000
160000
320000
800000
2000000
4000000
8000000
Pixel size
0.5 m
2 m
4 m
8 m
16 m
32 m
64 m
128 m
256 m
1024 m
2048 m
Spatial representation
Raster
Data content

The data content of the Background map series according to background map rasters:

The data content becomes larger as the scale increases. The data content includes objects that are essential when locating your position. The images have been anti-aliased.

Background map raster 1:5,000

The dataset is based on the Topographic databases except for the address numbers of buildings. The key objects are roads (also paths suitable for driving as well as walking and cycling routes), road names, address numbers of buildings (the Digital and Population Data Services Agency), buildings and constructions, railways, geographical names, administrative borders, waterways and land use (e.g. fields, swamps, parks). Background map raster 1:5 000 is the only scale level in the Background map series that includes road names and address numbers of buildings.

Background map raster 1:10,000

The dataset is based on the Topographic database. The key objects are roads (also paths suitable for driving as well as walking and cycling routes), buildings and constructions, railways, geographical names, administrative borders, waterways and land use (e.g. fields, swamps, parks).

Background map raster 1:20,000

The dataset is based on the Topographic database, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are roads (also paths suitable for driving as well as walking and cycling routes), buildings and constructions, railways, geographical names, administrative borders, waterways and land use (e.g. fields, swamps, parks).

Background map raster 1:40,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:100,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are roads, railways, geographical names, administrative borders, waterways and land use (e.g. fields, swamps, parks).

Background map raster 1:80,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:250,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are roads, railways, geographical names, population centres, administrative borders, waterways as well as fields and swamps.

Background map raster 1:160,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:250,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are roads, railways, geographical names, population centres, administrative borders, waterways as well as fields and swamps.

Background map raster 1:320,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:1,000,000 and the geographical names in Map names 1:500,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are geographical names, roads, railways, population centres, administrative borders, waterways as well as fields and swamps.

Background map raster 1:800,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:1,000,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are geographical names, roads, railways, administrative borders, population centres and waterways.

Background map raster 1:2,000,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:4,500,000. The key objects are geographical names, roads, railways, administrative borders and waterways.

Background map raster 1:4,000,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:4,500,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are geographical names, roads, railways and waterways.

Background map raster 1:8,000,000

The dataset is based on the dataset Topographic map 1:4,500,000, in addition selection generalisation has been used. The key objects are geographical names, main roads and waterways.

Maintenance

The data of the products in scales 1:5,000‒1:20,000 are updated with a delay of approximately 2¬3 days after the dataset has been updated in the Topographic database (see the product description of the Topographic database).

An annual version of the products in scales 1:40,000‒1:8,000,000 is published once a year in July. Administrative borders, protected areas and firing ranges are updated annually. The road network is updated every 1‒2 years. Topographic areas of human activity are updated every 2 years. Other map layers are updated every 2‒10 years. The updating status of all map layers of the annual version can be seen in the maintenance tables:

Maintenance of Topographic map 1:100,000 https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/sites/maanmittauslaitos.fi/files/attachments/2022/06/Maastokartta_100000_ajantasa.pdf

Maintenance of Topographic map 1:250,000 https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/sites/maanmittauslaitos.fi/files/attachments/2022/06/Maastokartta_250000_ajantasa.pdf

Maintenance of Topographic map 1:1,000,000 https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/sites/maanmittauslaitos.fi/files/attachments/2022/06/Maastokartta_1000000_ajantasa.pdf

Maintenance of Topographic map 1:4,500,000 https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/sites/maanmittauslaitos.fi/files/attachments/2022/06/Maastokartta_4500000_ajantasa.pdf

Geographic names are updated in the rasters of the WMS and WMTS interface services every 1 ‒2 days.

The products are available from the NLS MapSite's Download geospatial data -section , the interface and viewing services according to the above-described updating rhythm (see Distribution and further information).

Lineage

The source material used in the Background map series is based on the National Land Survey's map databases at different scales. Regarding positional accuracy, the most accurate scales of the Background map series correspond to the most accurate nationwide map dataset in raster format, i.e. Basic map raster that is based on the Topographic database.

The source data of each background map raster is in most cases an NLS map dataset the scale of which is lower than the nominal scale.

This aims for a portrayal that is as generalised and clear as possible and better suitable for background maps.

The updating frequency varies depending on the feature (see Maintenance).

The positional accuracy of features on the Background map rasters 1:320,000 and 1:800,000 are based on the positional accuracy of General map 1:1,000,000 (approx. 1,000 m).

The positional accuracy of features on the Background map rasters 1:2 million, 1:4 million and 1:8 million are based on the positional accuracy of General map 1:4,500,000 (approx. 5,000 m).

The positional accuracy of the feature in raster data material depends on its pixel size and imaging technology.

Responsible party

National Land Survey of Finland

Conditions applying to access and use
The copyright and other immaterial rights on the Background map series are owned by the National Land Survey of Finland. The product is maintained by using data from the municipalities. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency have the copyright to the address numbers of buildings in the product. The data material is not confidential. Public access to the material is not restricted by the INSPIRE Directive. Mention the name of the Licensor (the National Land Survey of Finland), the name of the dataset(s) and the time when the National Land Survey has delivered the dataset(s) (e.g.: contains data from the National Land Survey of Finland Topographic Database 06/2014).
Distribution format
PNG

Processing fees for Background map series (raster) data

Product Price € (excl. VAT) Price € (incl. VAT)
77103010070
Background map (raster), first map sheet
101,21 127,02
77103010071
Background map (raster), following map sheets
17,34 21,76
77103010072
Background map (raster), entire Finland
3349,52 4 203,65
77103010073
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:5,000
1732,50 2 174,29
77103010074
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:10,000
577,50 724,76
77103010075
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:20,000 or 1:40,000
346,53 434,90
77103010076
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:80,000
230,97 289,87
77103010077
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:160,000
138,55 173,88
77103010078
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:320,000, 1:800,000 or 1:2M
121,29 152,22
77103010079
Background map (raster), entire Finland, 1:4M or 1:8M
63,55 79,76
Not based on a decree