Law on Spatial Data Infrastructure

 In Finland, the Law on Spatial DataInfrastructure (421/2009) stipulate how the INSPIRE requirements areimplemented in Finland. It does not expand the scope of the Directive. The Lawdefines the obligations of public authorities which administer the originalspatial data, subject to the Directive. The scope of the law is defined in theRegulation on SDI.

The authorities mustprovide metadata on spatial data and services and integrate them in the searchservice. Also other geographic information producers can publish metadata insearch service. The National Land Survey is responsible for the Search Service.It also provides guidelines for metadata compilation.

 Authorities must prepare and keep up to dateshared spatial data as well ensure that it is available for online viewing anddata transfer. The National Land Survey (NLS) offers support services for theauthorities to implement the spatial data infrastructure to implement. The NLSalso monitor the quality and interoperability of spatial data.

Ministry ofAgriculture and Forestry acts as the INSPIRE focal point in Finland. Theministry also directs and monitors the implementation of the Law on SDI. TheSDI Advisory Board, appointed by the Government, supports the Ministry,assesses spatial data infrastructure development and use, and makes suggestionsand statements.

 TheRegulation on SDI

The Regulation on SDI specifies the Law on Spatial DataInfrastructure. The regulation identifies location information managed by theauthorities and the scope of the SDI Law relating to spatial data. Theregulation also specifies the tasks of the NLS and the SDI Council.

General definitions for Finnish SDI in theregulation:

-Coordinator: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

-List of authorities involved (26 authorities + municipalities)

-Duties: metadata, view & download services, reporting

- Support services by the National Land Survey:geoportal, discovery & transformation services, guidance, monitoring &reporting support

-National Council for Geographic Information (7 ministries + 8 other members)

 InFinland, the following authorities are obliged by the SDI regulation:

-Environment Institute

-National Land Survey

-Meteorological Institute

-Transport Agency

-Geological Survey

-Statistics Finland

-Population Registry Centre

-Agency for Rural Affairs

-Natural History Museum

-Game and Fisheries Research

-Forest Research Institute

-National Forest Agency

-Food Safety Authority

-Agrifood Research

-Agriculture and Forestry Information Centre

-Board of Antiquities - Defence Forcies

-Transport Safety Agency - Institute for Health and Welfare

-Energy Market Authority

-Ministry of Employment and the Economy

In addition:

Regional authorities:

-economy, transport and environment centres (15)-

-regional councils (19)

-forestry centres (13)

-search and request units (22)

            Localauthorities (336 municipalities)