No need to go to Jyväskylä - use the digital archives instead

For years, the National Land Survey (NLS) developed its digital archive system, which is shown as speedy service to the customers. As the information service of the digital archive improves, the possibility of studying old documents in writing ends.

"Our storage system has turned digital. It is no longer necessary to travel to Jyväskylä to get old maps. We deliver old and new documents conveniently to the nearest District Survey Office, or directly to the customer," says Marja Rantala, Director of the National Land Survey's Archive Centre.

In 2005 the NLS started to scan original material into digital format, from the basic land consolidation dating back to the 18th century onwards. Since the beginning of 2005 the originals of new legal survey documents have been archived digitally.

All archive services from District Survey Offices

From 1 January 2012 it will no longer be possible to study old legal survey documents and maps at the Provincial Archives of Jyväskylä.

"Together with the Provincial Archives we have decided to discontinue the research service, which has scarcely been used at the Provincial Archives of Jyväskylä during 2005-2011. The original documents are often too fragile to handle," explains Rantala.

Customer service won't deteriorate, rather the contrary. "Employees working at the customer service desks in District Survey Offices are well acquainted with property formation and know how to read legal survey documents and register entries. They will help in selecting only the relevant maps or parts of long documents, resulting in lower costs for the customer," explains Rantala.

It will still be possible for e.g. genealogy researchers to study the archives at the District Survey Offices, but on computer terminals. Merely looking at information will be free of charge, but a fee will be charged for printouts and transfers to memory sticks.

A 22 terabyte databank

The NLS digital archive system ARKKI contains more than 22 terabytes of data already and continues to grow. In addition to legal survey documents and decisions concerning the cadastral register made by the NLS, the system also contains the real property archives of cities which have stopped keeping their own cadastral registers.

The system also contains registrations of title and mortgage documents from December 1993, as well as all printed maps produced by the NLS since 1917.

"A huge amount of information is available at the District Survey Offices. Customers should contact the nearest District Survey Office if they have questions about the archives," recommends Director Rantala, whose Archive Centre handles 15.000 orders per year.

The National Land Survey operates in 35 localities around the country, from Mariehamn in the West to Ivalo in the North. Information from the digital archive is available at any District Survey Office, regardless of the location of the property.

More information

• Marja Rantala, Director of the Archive Centre of the National Land Survey,
  0400 879 950, marja.rantala[at]nls.fi