The Archive Centre
The Archive Centre of the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) is located in Jyväskylä, in the building next to the Jyväskylä Provincial Archives. The Archive Centre was established in 2005, at which time local land survey archives were transferred from district survey offices to Central Finland.
The Archive Centre contains maps and other documents created during land survey activities from the 1750s onwards. Individual cadastral survey maps number over half a million, and cadastral documents fill approximately 6 kilometres’ worth of shelves. The archives also include copies of all of the printed maps published by the National Land Survey since Finland proclaimed its independence in 1917.
Collaboration with the Provincial Archives
The National Land Survey makes extensive use of the archives in the execution of its official duties. Maps and cadastral documents are also popular as source material for historical and genealogical research.
The original material is available for viewing at the Jyväskylä Provincial Archives. Customers wishing to order documents may consult the land survey archive catalogues available at the Research Service of the Provincial Archive. An electronic land survey archive will be made available later.
Digital archives available at the NLS
All legal surveys are currently recorded in the Arkki archive management system in digital form. The digital archives contain all of the archive documents created in connection with legal surveys since 2004. Earlier documents are also converted into digital form on a regular basis.
The digital archive may be accessed at all NLS agencies. If the requested material is not yet to be found in the digital archive, customers may also access the microfilm archives at the local district survey office. As of 12 February 2008, the digital archive of the NLS has been available via the browser-based KTJ information service. In the near future digital maps will also be made available via the NLS website..
Contact information:
National Land Survey of Finland, Archive Centre
Oikokatu 11
40700 Jyväskylä
info.ark@maanmittauslaitos.fi
Customer service and enquiries, tel. +358 690 676
Director Marja Rantala, tel. +358 541 6920
Customer Service Manager Kari Rantalainen, tel. +358 541 6921
Information Systems Manager Jukka Mikkonen, tel. +358 541 6923
Archivist Miina Pelkonen, tel. +358 205 41 6922
Measure of Land
The Measure of Land is an online exhibition on the history of land survey which takes you on a journey through the multifaceted world of land survey. It illustrates the role land survey has played in Finnish society and strives to answer the question: what is the measure of land?
Visit the image bank on this page to view the images shown on the Mapscroll.fi website, including historical photos and maps.
Importance of Land
An esoteric science, or just dull fiddling with numbers? Land surveying may seem like an obscure branch of science, but it is actually very much present in our daily lives. We use land survey information and geographical data every day without paying much attention to the fact. The examples found on this page were designed as tools for teachers and to provide insightful learning experiences.
This page contains learning material designed to help you consider what land means for all of us. Teachers of various subjects can use the exercises to demonstrate the practical relevance of the topic at hand.