Public defence in geoinformatics, M.Sc. (Tech.) Erkki-Sakari Harju

Maps, production technology, society 

The dissertation examines the interaction between the map and society and its connection to the map production technology in the years 1776–1960, an important epoch in Finland’s cartographic history. The research method was the deconstructive analysis, which was very suitable for the task. The viewpoint of several lives on the map is closely connected to deconstructive thinking, as it expanded the societal context of maps as a whole. The research has shown that the preparation of the General Map of Finland in 1864 was an action of passive resistance against Russian repression by cartographic means. It also can be seen that the Finnish 1:20 000-scale printed topographic maps from Eastern Karelia made during the Continuation War served the military’s needs, as well as civilians in the conquered land, when it came to regional planning, conducting cadastral surveys, and registration. The four institutional mapping projects that was selected for the research work are: the 18th century Reconnaissance Mapping, the 1:400 000-scale General Map of Finland, the 1:20 000-scale Topographic Special Map, and the 1:20 000-scale Basic Map form. Despite their divergences, they are a connected series of maps that help us study the development of map production processes and their connection to society, as it concerns the availability and use of maps in addition to the extent of their usage. 

The study focuses on four topics: for whom the maps were made, what kind of production methods were used, what kind of maps were made, and how the maps were used. These topics are still valid in the 21st century when we plan, for example the product set of a general mapping project. Just as the mapping problems existed in the 19th century, they are still present in the daily planning and production of maps today. On 1930s The Finnish military also has been the main developer of cartographic works and field surveys in Finland. The improvements in production methods were transformed with a delay to the civilian mapping processes. For example, the development of photogrammetric methods in the late 1920s completely revolutionised the topographic field surveys, as it subsequently produced high-quality Finnish maps for the military during the Winter and Continuation Wars. Designed for civilian usage, the production techniques of the Basic Mapping from 1947 onwards was based on the production techniques of the Topographic Special Map.

Opponent: Professor emeritus, Dr Markku Löytönen, Helsinki University, Finland

Custos: Professor emerita Kirsi Virrantaus, Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment

Contact information of the doctoral student: Erkki-Sakari Harju, erkki-sakari.harju@kolumbus.fi, puh. +358408474009

The public defence will be organised on campus (auditorium M1, Otakaari 1). 

The thesis is publicly displayed 10 days before the defence in the publication archive Aaltodoc of Aalto University. 

Electronic thesis