Government report: Finland’s extensive geodata sets useful in regional planning

In Finland, geodata has been collected systematically for over a hundred years with bedrock surveys and studies, among other methods. The information helps in regional planning and in determining the best location for a variety of operations both aboveground and under it. The geodata sets are top class on a national level as well.

Ramboll Finland Oy and Luleå University of Technology assessed the value of Finland’s national geodata sets as part the Finnish Government’s joint analysis, assessment and research activities. The project aimed to find out:

• What additional value the national geodata sets produce to the society and to the mining industry in terms of quantity and quality.
• What effect does the utilisation of the geodata sets have on costs savings now and in the future, and on the number of investments and research activities.
• What methods can be used to more cost-effectively increase the value of the geodata sets in the future.
• How similar datasets are utilized in peer countries.

The national geodatabase under review comprised datasets containing geological, geophysical and geochemical data on Finnish soil and bedrock. The datasets are maintained by GTK.

Finland’s geodata sets are internationally compelling

Finland’s national geodata sets are at a very good level internationally as well. Finland is one of the leading countries in terms of geodata availability and coverage, data collection methods and the effect of the database on Finland’s attractiveness to mining investors.

The cost value of the Finnish geodata sets that are important for the mineral economy is approximately EUR 1,330 million. In Finland, a total return of 2.4 euros, 1.1 euros of value added, and 0.5 euro of tax revenue (according to the current tax structure) have been generated per 1 euro invested in the acquisition of the geodatabase. In terms of the benefits to the national economy, the estimated value of the national geodatabase is about EUR 5.15 billion. Based on the avoided costs, the annual social value of the national geodatabase is estimated at EUR 17.9 million by using the median and EUR 716 by using the average.

In the future, new applications and uses should be developed for the geodata sets. Potential new applications and uses should be surveyed with questionnaires targeting the users of the geodata sets. This would help in increasing the usability of the data in different applications. Significant cost savings can also be achieved by developing the geodata sets, since this allows other operators in the society to avoid costs by utilising the existing data.

The report and the related research were conducted as part of the implementation of the Finnish Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities.

Summary and link to the report (in Finnish): Suomen kansallisen geotietoaineiston arvo (The economic value of Finland’s national geological database)