Interference impacts Finland’s National Land Survey amid increased GPS jamming incidents

Intentional interference with satellite positioning has significantly impacted Finland’s National Land Survey. This year, aerial photography and laser scanning missions in Southeast Finland have been partially disrupted due to this interference.

“The interference is noticeable when the positioning fails. Analyses of the signals have revealed that the aerial photography missions have been deliberately disrupted,” stated Sanna Kaasalainen, head of the National Land Survey’s geospatial data center.

Kaasalainen explained that the devices used to create this interference, known as jammers, systematically block all frequencies with which they operate, leaving a detectable trace. GPS jamming incidents have reportedly increased this year, leading to heightened reliability issues concerning geospatial data.

While Kaasalainen refrains from identifying the source of jamming detected in Finland, previous assessments have suggested that GPS disruptions in the Gulf of Finland may be related to broader GPS jamming activities by Russia.

The National Land Survey’s aerial imagery and laser scanning data are crucial for various societal functions, including those utilized by the Defense Forces and the Finnish Food Authority. This year, laser scanning data was missed from Kouvola, hindering efforts by the Finnish Forest Centre to gather planned forest resources information. Such data is essential for understanding forest composition.

The financial benefits of these data collections, particularly for forestry and flood damage prevention, amount to several million euros annually. However, prolonged GPS interference and challenges in data collection may impose significant societal costs.

Current awareness of GPS jamming is based on reports from users to authorities. The National Land Survey emphasizes the need for real-time, data-driven situational awareness to mitigate disruptions’ impacts, proposing a GPS interference weather report to provide up-to-date information on the quality and availability of positioning signals. Such information could also benefit air traffic operations.