Traficom launches multi-year lake mapping project in North Savo

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, is updating lake chart information in North Savo, with a multi-year mapping project set to launch in September. The initial focus will be on the lakes around Pielavesi and Konnevesi, and the project is expected to continue until at least 2026. Traficom has indicated that the current coordinate system and accuracy of existing maps do not support contemporary navigation systems, as the data has not been updated since surveys conducted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with some channel measurements dating back to the 1970s.

A total of 13 lakes in North Savo will be mapped, including Konnevesi, Pohjois-Konnevesi, Kiesimä, Sonkari, Vesantojärvi, Niinivesi, Pohjois-Niinivesi, Iisvesi, Virmasvesi, Rasvanki, Kuttajärvi, Nilakka, and Pielavesi. The region has seen increased water traffic, particularly due to the popularity of the Southern Konnevesi National Park.

The surveys will encompass depth measurements conducted via aircraft and boat. Laser scanning from an aircraft flying approximately 400 meters above the lakes will be utilized, which may generate some noise. Jyrki Mononen, a senior inspector at Traficom, stated that flights will primarily occur during daylight hours. However, if conditions are optimal during certain nights, nighttime flights may also be necessary.

The boat-based depth measurements will begin this autumn and continue as weather permits, extending into the following spring. Mononen noted that measurements near inhabited areas will be minimized, and fishermen are encouraged to clearly mark their gear.