Projects that have received support

1. Facilitating the deployment of solar parks, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources

The Land Board is involved in the implementation of the reform "Accelerating the deployment of renewable energy" (REPoweEU program). The project is funded by the European Union from the NextGenerationEU recovery fund. The Land Board is involved in the activities from September 1, 2023, to March 31, 2026. The purpose of the grant is to facilitate the introduction of renewable energy sources.

The activities supported by the Land Board are:

• procurement and renewal of equipment to ensure up-to-date spatial data in the processing of renewable energy projects
• updating spatial data related to renewable energy and increasing its reliability;
• preparing land operations for the introduction of priority wind energy development areas.

As a result of the project, the aerial camera, laser scanner, and ESTPOS permanent stations of the national global navigation satellite system satellite data center will be upgraded.

Updated and supplemented spatial data will be compiled on solar parks, wind turbines, roads, and 3D models of buildings (facades, roof shapes, and other information necessary for estimating energy consumption and production potential). changes resulting from the needs of data users, information available in other databases (e.g., the building register and the network infrastructure database) and related services will be taken into account.

In priority wind energy development areas, the necessary land procedures related to wind energy projects will be prepared, preparations will be made for granting building rights on state land, and opinions on the use of mineral deposit areas will be issued expeditiously.

The budget for the supported activities of the Land Board is €6,929,097.

2. Scanning and publication of reports on applied geodetic work from 1959 to 1990

Brief description of the project: The Land Board has been allocated funds for the project "Digitization of the archive of applied geodetic work files and making them available as open data" within the framework of the reform "Creation and development of a data management and open data center" in accordance with the recovery and resilience plan.

The Land Board has been allocated funds for the project "Digitization of the archive of applied geodetic work files and making them available as open data" as part of the reform "Creation and development of a data management and open data center" under the recovery and resilience plan.

The agreement provides for the following activities:

• preparation of reports on applied geodetic works from 1959 to 1990 for scanning
• scanning of reports on applied geodetic works
• creating a final PDF file from the applied geodetic work reports
• publishing the applied geodetic work reports in the applied geodetic work reports database application
• making the metadata of applied geodetic work reports (including sub-data) available through the open data portal (avaandmed.eesti.ee)

Amount of support allocated: €130,000.

3. Georeferencing of land improvement system drawings

The project is financed by the European Union from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Fund (Recovery and Resilience Facility, component 3 “Digital State”, reform 1.3 “Development of Entrepreneurial Lifecycle Services and the Digital Gateway”).

Project Summary

The project involves the georeferencing of historical land improvement system drawings, primarily originating from the period 1955–1995, that have been digitised from the foundational documents of the land improvement archive of the Estonian Land and Spatial Development Board. This constitutes the second stage of the digitisation process of the land improvement archive drawings (the first stage was the 2025–2026 scanning of the drawings). The estimated number of drawings to be georeferenced is 10,000. The exact quantity will be determined during contract performance and may be higher or lower.

Objective

The purpose of the project is to georeference the land improvement system drawings scanned in 2025–2026. The project supports the broader goal of enabling the use of land improvement drawings (and other materials from the land improvement archive) in map applications and public services. The general objective is to improve the usability, accuracy, quality, and accessibility of land improvement data and to reduce administrative burden in the processing of information requests and coordination procedures.

Expected Results

• Approximately 10,000 drawings georeferenced in accordance with the specified requirements (the exact number will be determined during contract performance and may be higher or lower)
• Georeferencing control point files that comply with established requirements
• Metadata files that comply with established requirements for each georeferenced drawing
• Properly structured files delivered within the required directory structure

Allocated funding: 139,900 euros.

Harmonization of geodetic systems in the Estonian-Latvian border area (GeoRefAct)

• Project status:
• Partnership agreement and financing agreement have been concluded
• Project partners:
• Estonian Land Board and Latvian Spatial Data Information Agency
• Brief description of the project:
• The project will be implemented from January 11, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The GeoRefAct project will create opportunities for harmonizing the geodetic systems of Estonia and Latvia, including various geodetic networks and data, and for the cross-use of Estonian and Latvian geodetic data in the Estonian-Latvian border area. During the project, the differences between the elevation and coordinate systems of the two countries will be assessed on the basis of high-precision measurement results (GNSS, high-precision levelling, gravimetry, polygonometry), and transition models for coordinate and elevation systems will be developed. One focus is the validation of coordinate and elevation conversion models compiled on the basis of geodetic measurement results in the twin towns of Valga/Valka.
• Project objective:
• To provide accurate, up-to-date, and harmonized location-based data and services for public use in the Estonian-Latvian border area.
• Amount of support allocated:
• 500,000 euros. The Land Board is the lead partner in the project, contributing 56% of the total amount, or €280,000, of which ERDF Interreg V-A funding accounts for 85%, or €238,000, and the Land Board's own contribution accounts for 15%, or €42,000.
• Project outcome:
• A web application for converting heights and coordinates, which will be made available as open data on the websites of the Land Board and the Latvian Spatial Data Information Agency.

This information reflects the views of the author. The program's managing authority is not responsible for how this information may be used.

Targeted financing agreements concluded in 2019

1. Aerial monitoring of mining activities in the amount of €203,839.92

Based on data from laser scanning and aerial photography, 150 mining permits will be checked for compliance with the conditions of the permits based on data from 2019. During the project, compliance with the permitted mining limits will be monitored both horizontally and vertically, and in the event of repeated overflights, the accuracy of the mining volume report submitted by the mining permit holder will also be checked. The project will also monitor whether the piles remain within the service area. Systematic detection of violations will lead to an improvement in mining culture and a reduction in the number of violations.

2. Aerial photography for forest management and preparation of orthophotos in the amount of EUR 101,725.00

During the project, aerial photographs necessary for forest management and forest condition assessment will be taken. An area of 1,046,000 ha (Saaremaa, Pärnumaa, Viljandimaa) will be photographed. Photography will take place when deciduous trees are in full leaf in order to obtain a better overview of the distribution of tree species in the forests. False-color CIR orthophotos will be compiled, in which different colors indicate different tree species, as well as standard RGB orthophotos. Orthophotos can be used to delineate forest compartments and compile forest maps with sufficient accuracy.

3. Supplementing the engineering geology database in the amount of €117,099.50

The Land Board's archives contain 77 shelf meters of engineering geological survey reports that were transferred to the Land Board during the liquidation of several companies in the 1990s and have not yet been entered into the database. New reports will be sorted out from these, and the spatial shape of the survey area and other primary data necessary for users of the engineering geology e-service to perform web searches will be entered into the database. The pages and drawings of the reports will be scanned to create files, which will then be added to the database. The project will improve the availability of engineering geology survey reports to the public. Designers, planners and implementers of engineering geological surveys, planners, builders, landowners, land buyers, researchers, students, and environmental specialists will be able to access engineering geological data online, regardless of their location and with minimal time expenditure.

Targeted financing agreements concluded in 2018

1. Aerial monitoring of mining activities in the amount of €203,839.92

Based on data from laser scanning and aerial photography, 150 mining permits will be checked for compliance with the conditions of the permits based on data from 2018. During the project, compliance with the permitted mining limits will be monitored both horizontally and vertically, and in the event of repeated overflights, the accuracy of the mining volume report submitted by the mining permit holder will also be checked. The project will also monitor whether the piles remain within the service area. Systematic detection of violations will lead to an improvement in mining culture and a reduction in the number of violations.

2. Aerial photography for forest management and production of orthophotos in the amount of EUR 99,085.00

During the project, aerial photographs necessary for forest management and forest condition assessment will be taken. An area of 1,082,000 ha in north-western Estonia (Hiiumaa, Läänemaa, Harjumaa, Raplamaa) will be photographed and laser scanned from the air. Photography will take place when the deciduous trees are in full leaf in order to obtain a better overview of the distribution of tree species in the forests. False-color CIR orthophotos will be compiled, where different colors indicate different tree species, as well as regular RGB orthophotos. Orthophotos can be used to delineate forest compartments and compile forest maps with sufficient accuracy.

Target financing agreements concluded in 2017

1. Aerial monitoring of mining activities in the amount of EUR 203,839.92

Based on data from laser scanning and aerial photography, 150 mining permits will be checked for compliance with the conditions of the permits based on data from 2017. During the project, compliance with the permitted mining limits will be monitored both horizontally and vertically, and in the event of repeated overflights, the accuracy of the mining volume report submitted by the mining permit holder will also be checked. The project will also monitor whether stockpiles remain within the service area. Systematic detection of violations will lead to an improvement in mining culture and a reduction in the number of violations.

2. Aerial photography for forest management and preparation of orthophotos in the amount of EUR 99,885.00

During the project, aerial photographs necessary for forest management and forest condition assessment will be taken. An area of 1,135,000 ha in south-eastern Estonia (Tartu County, eastern Viljandi County, Valga County, Põlva County, Võru County) will be photographed. The photographs will be taken when the deciduous trees are in full leaf in order to obtain a better overview of the distribution of tree species in the forests. False-color CIR orthophotos will be compiled, where different colors indicate different tree species, as well as standard RGB orthophotos. Orthophotos can be used to delineate forest compartments and compile forest maps with sufficient accuracy.

3. Supplementing the engineering geology database in the amount of €155,629.39

The engineering geology database created by the Land Board contains 70% of the initial data from engineering geology survey reports.

In order to ensure that customer service is fully web-based, fast and smooth, the primary data of reports that are currently missing from the database, including the spatial shapes of the survey area, will be entered into the database. In order to comply with archiving requirements, archival cardboard boxes will be purchased for storing paper files. As a result of the project, the availability of engineering geology survey reports to the public will improve. Designers, planners and implementers of engineering geological surveys, planners, builders, landowners, land buyers, researchers, students and environmental specialists will be able to access engineering geological data online, regardless of their location and with minimal time expenditure.

4. Development of the list of deposits in the environmental register in the amount of EUR 66,000.00

During the project, the list of deposits program will be enhanced with the ability to receive and manage data on survey points, laboratory samples, and contour lines, keep a record of a deposit in several registry cards, create new data layers for use, and supplement existing ones. The map application for mineral deposits on the Land Board's website geoportal will be supplemented with the option to view, import and export survey point and laboratory sample data. In order to develop data exchange with other databases, the X-tee services of version 6 of the mineral deposit register will be supplemented.

Targeted financing agreements concluded in 2016

1. Aerial monitoring of mining activities in the amount of €203,839.92

Based on data from laser scanning and aerial photography, 150 mining permits will be checked for compliance with the conditions of the permits based on data from 2016. During the project, compliance with the permitted mining limits will be monitored both horizontally and vertically, and in the event of repeated overflights, the accuracy of the mineral resource extraction volume report submitted by the mining permit holder will also be checked. The project will also monitor whether stockpiles remain within the service area. Systematic detection of violations will lead to an improvement in mining culture and a reduction in the number of violations.

2. Aerial photography for forest management and preparation of orthophotos in the amount of EUR 91,860.00

During the project, aerial photographs necessary for forest management and forest condition assessment will be taken. An area of 1,080,000 ha in northeastern Estonia (Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru counties, eastern Harju County, Järva County, and Jõgeva County) will be photographed. The photographs will be taken when the deciduous trees are in full leaf in order to obtain a better overview of the distribution of tree species in the forests. False-color CIR orthophotos will be compiled, where different colors indicate different tree species, as well as standard RGB orthophotos. Orthophotos can be used to delineate forest stands and compile forest maps with sufficient accuracy.

3. Mapping of mineral resources in the amount of €324,360.00

The project will supplement the digital geological map database. As part of general geological research, information will be collected on the potential distribution areas of construction minerals. Factual material will be collected on the Rapla map sheet and added to the factual database, and thematic maps of the bedrock relief and geology, surface cover thickness and geology, and mineral resources will be compiled at a scale of 1:50,000. Factual material is collected on the Järvakandi map sheet and added to the factual database, and a thematic map of the bedrock geology is compiled on a scale of 1:50,000.

4. Development of the list of deposits in the environmental register in the amount of EUR 45,540.00

During the project, the results of the stability assessment of oil shale mining areas, compiled by Tallinn University of Technology, will be added to the deposit map application on the Land Board's website geoportal; the layers of usable peat areas, peat areas to be restored, and restored peat areas will be made public; the list of deposits program will be updated to allow for ongoing changes to these layers. The data set will be supplemented in the web application's search output with a spatial buffer for mining concessions. New data layers will be created for use in the list program and existing ones will be supplemented.

5. Restoration of the Vääna geopolygon baseline in the amount of EUR 100,086.00

The purpose of the Vääna geopolygon baseline is to enable the proper metrological calibration and verification of geodetic measuring instruments in Estonia. The baseline consists of 19 precision-measured measuring rods. In 2014, the Vääna baseline was damaged; during the restoration of the baseline, forced centering plates will be manufactured and installed, the measuring rods of the baseline will be precision-measured, and safety devices will be installed. As a result of the project, it will be possible to check the distance meters of electronic tachometers in Estonia at various distances with an accuracy of 0.5 mm and to determine corrections for them depending on the distance and the prism used. Tachometers are necessary for geodetic work, including underground measurements and measurements of forest-covered areas, such as establishing geodetic networks, large-scale (1:500-1:5000) topographic surveying, marking work, coordinating land registry boundary points, and construction geodetic work.

6. Renewal of the laser scanning system in the amount of EUR 1,446,534.00

The project will upgrade the laser scanning system purchased by the Land Board in 2008, which is now physically and morally obsolete and includes both hardware and software components. The data obtained using the system will be used for national spatial data collection, i.e. topographic mapping, land cadastre, land reform, agriculture, defense, police, border guard, rescue operations, and other areas that use spatial data. The new system has significantly higher performance than the old one and allows half of Estonia's territory to be covered with up-to-date information during the mapping season.

Structural Funds 2014-2020

Business analysis of the spatial data information system for limited property rights ​

• Project status:
• The project has been completed. Site visits are currently being carried out.
• Brief description of the project:
• According to the Land Cadastre Act, the cadastral registrar is responsible for registering data on restrictions and land use rights in order to ensure their availability to the public. The Land Board currently does this on the restrictions map for restrictions (compulsory easements) established on the basis of legal and administrative acts. The database does not contain machine-readable spatial data on restrictions (limited rights in rem) established on the basis of transactions and court decisions, which is why they are not visible on the cadastral restrictions map. The business analysis project will clarify the technical possibilities for the Land Board, as the land registry keeper, to enter spatial data on both existing and future limited rights in rem in machine-readable form in the land registry.
• Project objective:
• The objective of the project is to conduct a business analysis that identifies the most suitable solutions for creating and maintaining machine-readable spatial data on limited property rights, together with a cost-benefit analysis.
• Amount of support allocated:
• €41,310, total project cost €48,600.
• Result:
• The project resulted in a business analysis with visuals of the future system. The business analysis describes the as-is and to-be processes, lists the related information systems and interfaces, describes the use cases and development stages, and provides a cost-benefit analysis. The business analysis is available on the geoportal.

The Land Board and the Information Technology Center of the Ministry of the Environment will continue with the development project following the business analysis to create an information system for limited property rights spatial data and to ensure the completeness of data by registering all valid limited property rights spatial forms in the cadastre.

Developments in the Land Board's information systems accompanying the administrative reform

• Project status:
• The project has been completed.
• Brief description of the project:
• Ensure that the new spatial data of the local governments that have merged during the administrative reform are entered into the e-Cadastre and that addresses are changed within a reasonable time in accordance with the real-time announcement of the results of the administrative reform. Ensure the optimal distribution of mass changes in services related to the Land Board's information systems so that all other databases can update the spatial data and address data of administrative and settlement units. Timely entry of new spatial data changes for local governments that have merged during the administrative reform into the Land Board's information systems and services so that all other databases can update the spatial data and address data of administrative and settlement units.
• Project objective:
• Timely entry of new spatial data changes for local governments that have merged as a result of administrative reform into the Land Board's information systems and services so that all other databases can update the spatial data and address data of administrative and settlement units.
• Amount of support allocated:
• EUR 299,956.80
• Result:
• Changes made to Estonia's administrative division during the administrative reform have been entered into the Land Board's information systems and made available to other information systems through its services. The Land Board's information systems function in accordance with consumer expectations and are used in everyday work.

Consolidation of map interfaces of geoportals

• Project status:
• The project has been completed and the site has been handed over. The final report is being prepared.
• Project status:
• The procurement contract has been concluded and the five stages of work have been accepted.
• Brief description of the project:
• Improving the availability of the Land Board's map services and data by integrating new technological solutions and various portals. This will increase the usability and convenience of spatial data. It is important for users to have map services that are easy to understand and operate on a similar logic. This helps to save resources. It is very important that map services are accessible from a single portal and that currently separate functionalities can be used together in the same environment, which allows for the implementation of completely new usage scenarios.
• Project objective:
• The main objective of the project is to connect the map interfaces of the Land Board's geoportal and the Estonian geoportal in order to increase the usability and convenience of spatial data and to save costs. From the user's point of view, it is important that map services operate on a similar logic, which greatly simplifies use and helps save time. It is also important that map services are accessible from the same place and that currently separate functionalities can be used together in the same environment, which allows for the implementation of completely new usage scenarios. It is also important to move away from outdated technological solutions.
• Amount of support allocated:
• EUR 269,966.40
• Result:
• As a result of the project, the functionality, quality, technical solution, and security of use of the map interface, which is an important part of the Estonian national spatial data infrastructure, will be improved. The project will result in:
  • the replacement of the outdated Flash software, on which most X-GIS map application user interfaces are based, with modern technology;
  • the integration of two map interfaces into one and the improvement of their functionality;
  • the map application user interface has been created in accordance with the principles of responsive design.

Creation of the basic infrastructure for the ESTHub remote sensing services development center

• Project status:
• Procurement contract concluded.
• Project status:
• Project implementation has been completed, final acceptance will take place on 12.12.2018. The final report is being prepared.
• Brief description of the project:
• Creation of a basic infrastructure for processing, distributing, and archiving Copernicus (pan-European space cooperation program) data for Estonian users. This enables state authorities to use remote sensing data to better perform their tasks and work processes and provides pre-processed satellite data to companies operating in the field of remote sensing in Estonia, thereby promoting entrepreneurship. It also encourages universities and research institutions to use satellite data in their teaching and research work.
• Project objective:
• The main objective of the project is to create a basic infrastructure for Estonian users for processing, distributing, and archiving Copernicus (a pan-European space cooperation program) data.
• Amount of support allocated:
• EUR 430,000.00
• Result:
• The project will result in a completely new technical solution, with the creation of a basic infrastructure for archiving and providing data processing support for the Copernicus satellite program and other similar satellite data processing and distribution. ESTHub is a new type of data center that has not existed in Estonia before and that will enable the state, researchers, and the private sector to make greater use of remote sensing data in their work.

Creation of a basic infrastructure for services related to objects restricting land use

• Project status:
• The project is nearing completion, with the final meeting taking place on December 12, 2018. The final report is currently being prepared.
• Brief description of the project:
• The project deals with the creation of a basic infrastructure for cadastral restrictions. The system to be created must be a modern, technology-based autonomous solution that communicates with other databases through services. The new solution will enable the intelligent management of restrictions together with other necessary spatial data collections and will offer convenient services ranging from a web-based portal for data providers to personalized services for landowners.
• Project objective:
• The objective of the project is to implement e-Kataster, a land registry that meets contemporary needs and allows for the efficient maintenance of spatial data on restrictions and administrative boundaries of cadastral units together with other data collections containing spatial data.
• Amount of support allocated:
• EUR 474,000.00
• Result:
• As a result of the project, the existing programmed procedures in the information system database of objects causing restrictions in the e-cadastre have been developed into a production environment, whose task is to receive raw data from various sources, check its quality, and store the results. Services have been developed through which other databases and end users can access the restriction data.

Developments necessary for the implementation of REGREL in the address data system 2

Project status: The tender has been announced and bids are being awaited.

Brief description of the project: The project will create the technical prerequisites for the transition to a register-based census in 2020. Postal codes will be added to ADS. The integrated address search (In-ADS) will be supplemented, which anyone can add to their website. The geocoder will be improved, allowing addresses to be displayed on a map in tabular form.

Project objective:

• The main objective of the project is to improve the services offered by the address data system in accordance with customer needs and to ensure the quality and technical capability of address data for the implementation of REGREL and use in various registers.
• During the current RAAS-2 project, it is planned to supplement the functionality of ADS so that it meets the additional needs of residents and businesses, ADS information system interfaces, and the implementation of the register-based population and housing census (REGREL).
• The transition to REGREL will be a major leap forward in terms of both technology and content. Instead of the previous door-to-door method, the census will be conducted on the basis of registers. The RAAS-2 project is a prerequisite for the implementation of REGREL.

During the project, needs will be analyzed and the following components will be developed:

• ADS information system: Data groups (postal codes, building names, and settlement information) will be added to the ADS database, and business rules, procedural application software, and screen forms will be supplemented.
• In-ADS service - Postal codes, building names, and settlement information will be added.
• Geocoding service - Functionality will be supplemented and data groups will be added (see previous point). One of the largest consumers is Statistics Estonia. From REGREL's point of view, the geocoder functionality ensures the possibility of linking data. The more different consumers and their feedback there are, the higher quality data we can guarantee.
• New data groups will be added to X-tee services, and new versions of services will be completed. The users are primarily other information systems, which in turn offer their services and data (including ADS address data) to citizens and businesses.
• The address is very often the connecting link between data from different registers. Therefore, in order to perform public tasks that require the use and linking of data from different registers (e.g., REGREL or land tax exemption for residential land), it is necessary to correctly interface different registers with ADS. Most private sector consumers need postal addresses in their work processes.

Amount of support allocated: EUR 250,000.00

As a result of the project:

• The reliability of ADS services will be improved, as they are used in increasingly responsible areas (e.g., issuing ID cards, driver's licenses, etc.). A new public ADS application will be created and X-Gis2 will be introduced as a public map application for ADS. In-ADS must operate 24/7.
• Data fields will be added to ADS (postal codes, settlement boundaries and coordinates, building names).
• Estonian address data services will be offered in three languages (necessary for e-residents). During the previous RAAS project, an English interface was created for In-ADS, and with RAAS-2, we will add a Russian interface. We will also translate the public application, both the source and map applications, into Russian.
• In summary, all of the above helps to ensure the data quality required by REGREL, the completeness of data necessary for the interoperability of registers, and the functionality of data processing.

Number: 4-1.1/13/169

Partner: Statens Kartverk/Norwegian Mapping Agency

Cost: €1,472,500

Program: Integrated management of marine and inland waters

Funding: European Economic Area Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein contribution 2009-2014.

European Economic Area grants website

National Focal Point website

Program operator website

Project website in English

Project contact information: Land Board, Mustamäe tee 51, 10621 Tallinn

Ene Jüriska, 675 0838, [email protected]

Maili Hirlak, 665 0610, [email protected]

Brief introduction

Estonia is obliged to implement the European Union (EU) INSPIRE Directive. The aim of the directive is to establish an EU spatial data infrastructure. This will make environmental spatial data more easily accessible to the public sector and ensure that the European public has access to spatial information. The project will enable us to create services that meet the requirements of the directive and make a certain amount of the required data available through these services. The INSPIRE Directive specifies which services must be available and sets requirements for their availability. The data published through the services must also comply with the requirements of the Directive. Currently, the services for viewing and searching the data areas listed in Annex I of the directive are ready and available. Services for the data areas listed in Annexes II and III still need to be created. In addition, transformation and download services need to be developed for all subject areas listed in the annexes to the directive.

Beneficiaries

The Estonian public sector will have better access to spatial data, and the business sector will have access to national data for development purposes. The entire European public will have access to spatial data, which will be uniformly usable and comparable. For example, the following target groups will benefit: improving environmental monitoring and impact assessment (e.g., the Environmental Board); improving the cost-effectiveness of environmental protection and environmental law enforcement (e.g., the Environmental Inspectorate); implementation of risk prevention, health and environmental policies (e.g. Ministry of the Environment); implementation of EU projects; collection of data for pan-European networks (e.g. EuroStat, EuroGeographics).

Programme overview

In 2009-2014, 86 programs in 15 European countries will be funded by the European Economic Area. The European Economic Area grants are provided by Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein in accordance with the size and wealth of their countries. Of the €988.5 million, Norway's contribution accounts for 94%, Iceland's for 5%, and Liechtenstein's for 1%.

During the 2009-2014 funding period, the net contribution of Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein to Estonia under the European Economic Area grants is €21.275 million, of which €6.9 million is allocated directly to the implementation of environmental projects. Environmental program "Integrated management of marine and inland waters":

The program "Integrated management of inland and marine waters" is implemented in cooperation with the donor program partner, the Norwegian Environment Agency, which deals with nature conservation and pollution control. More specifically, the agency is responsible for monitoring the environmental situation in Norway, disseminating environmental information, providing guidance and cooperating with local authorities on environmental issues, providing expert assessments, and contributing to international environmental cooperation.

The aim of the program is to contribute to achieving good environmental status in Estonia's marine and inland waters. The predefined projects of the program (marked in purple in the figure) will result in the completion of the Estonian Marine Strategy Monitoring Program and Action Plan, a proposal for a national climate change adaptation strategy, a water data processing model, and improved quality and availability of spatial data.

The Land Board is responsible for implementing the project "Implementation of the INSPIRE Directive." The project application was approved and deemed eligible for funding on August 8, 2013, and on September 2, 2013, the Ministry of the Environment and the Land Board signed a project agreement.

Project content

The Estonian state has an obligation to implement the European Union (EU) INSPIRE Directive. The project will enable us to create services that meet the requirements of the directive and make a certain amount of the required data available through these services. The aim of the directive is to create an EU spatial data infrastructure. This will make environmental spatial data more easily accessible to the public sector and ensure that the European public has access to spatial information.

The INSPIRE Directive specifies which services must be available and sets requirements for their availability. The data published through the services must also comply with the requirements of the Directive. Currently, the services for viewing and searching the data areas listed in Annex I to the directive are ready and available. Services for the data areas listed in Annexes II and III need to be created. In addition, transformation and download services need to be developed for all the thematic areas listed in the annexes to the directive.

The effectiveness of marine and inland water management and protection depends on the availability of sufficient and accurate environmental information. Currently, information on the availability of spatial data is patchy, and non-standard applications make data exchange difficult. The aim of the project is to bring the spatial data infrastructure into line with the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive, which in turn would enable the sharing of spatial data between different users and applications and the fulfillment of international obligations.

The direct objectives of the project are

• The availability of services that comply with the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive for all data areas in Annexes I, II, and III. The availability of data in the data areas under the responsibility of the Land Board through the services to be created.
• Updating topographic spatial data on land cover so that it complies with the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive. The aim of the project is to update spatial data on land cover for 17% of Estonia's territory.

Project progress

• 8-9 March 2016 visit to Norway, presentation of project results and discussion of further cooperation opportunities with the project partner.
• 1 March 2016 project final seminar
• January 29, 2016 The INSPIRE service developer handed over to the Land Board the data, services, technical infrastructure work, documentation, and extraordinary work that became apparent during development, as stipulated in Agreement III, i.e., the final delivery.
• January 18, 2016 The work on the fourth and final stage of land cover mapping, the Viru object, was handed over to the Land Board.
• September 30, 2015 The work on the third stage of land cover mapping, the Viljandi object, was handed over to the Land Board.
• May 18, 2015 The INSPIRE service developer handed over to the Land Board the hardware and test environment specified in Contract II, together with the INSPIRE Annex I service converters.
• May 15, 2015 The work on the second stage of land cover mapping, the Saare object, was handed over to the Land Board.
• January 15, 2015 The INSPIRE service developer handed over the initial analysis document to the Land Board.
• January 9, 2015 The work for phase I of land cover mapping, Hiiu object, was handed over to the Land Board.
• December 12, 2014 ESRI software was handed over to the Land Board.
• December 11, 2014 A sales contract was signed with Alphagis OÜ, the winner of the tender for the purchase of ESRI software.
• November 10, 2014 A contract was signed with Alphagis OÜ, the winner of the tender for the development of INSPIRE services. The work will be carried out over a period of 12 months.
• On August 4, 2014, a contract was signed with AS Kaardikeskus, the best bidder for land cover mapping. The work will take 18 months to complete.
• On June 20, 2014, bidders for the land cover mapping tender submitted their bids.
• On May 8, 2014, a tender was announced for "Stereophotogram-metric mapping to update the spatial data of the Estonian Topographic Database (ETAK)" (reference number 152179).
• February 12, 2014 The tender "Supplementing the national spatial data infrastructure in accordance with Annexes 2 and 3 of the INSPIRE Directive in terms of spatial data domains and services" was announced. The deadline for submitting bids or applications was March 17, 2014, at 12:00 p.m.
• November 14, 2013 Land cover seminar
• September 26, 2013 Press release issued by the Ministry of the Environment and the Land Board: "Accessibility of Estonian map data to be improved"
• September 2, 2013 Project agreement signed with the program operator, the Ministry of the Environment.
• On August 8, 2013, the project application was approved, making the project eligible for funding.

Cooperation with Norwegian partner

The project partner is the Norwegian mapping organization Statens Kartverket. The partnership agreement was signed on May 29, 2013.

Land Board specialists Sulev Õitspuu, Hanno Kuus, Lea Pauts, and Maili Hirlak visited Norway on June 3–4, 2013, during which representatives of the Norwegian mapping organization (Kartverket) gave an overview of their activities in the field of spatial data and provided a very thorough introduction to areas related to INSPIRE, with a focus on INSPIRE services. In the second part of the visit, we took a closer look at two companies. First, we looked at the technical solution and work organization between Kartverket and Norconsult, a provider of orthophoto viewing, search, transformation, and download services. The second company we visited, Blom, is a broad-based listed company that is mainly engaged in data production. The visit to Blom provided an opportunity to learn about data production from the perspective of a procurement contractor/tenderer. The visit was funded by the program's bilateral relations development budget.

Elena Busch and Ewa Schage, specialists from the Norwegian mapping organization's project unit, attended the opening conference of the European Economic Area (EEA) grant program "Integrated Management of Inland and Marine Waters" on June 20, 2013, at the Swissôtel Conference Center in Tallinn.

The visit was funded from the programme's bilateral relations development budget.

Norwegian consultants Arvid Lillethun and Lars Inge Arnevik visited the Land Board for their first consultation visit on September 3-6, 2013, during which they shared their experiences on the disclosure of spatial data.

Documents regulating the implementation of the program

• Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway on the EEA Financial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014 in Estonian and in English
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on the implementation of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014 in Estonian and English
• Implementing Regulation of the EEA Financial Mechanism adopted by the Financial Mechanism Committee and its annexes in English
• Regulation No. 78 of the Government of the Republic of Estonia of 23 May 2013 "Conditions and procedure for applying for and using funds from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism in 2009-2014", which entered into force on 1 June 2013
• Program Agreement concluded between the National Focal Point and the Financial Mechanisms Committee, signed on 28 March 2013
• Communication and Design Manual in Estonian (unofficial translation)
• In addition, the donors have prepared guidelines for compliance, which are available in English on the Financial Mechanisms Office website
• Project application form and budget table
• Project agreement
• Project report

Project final seminar

On Tuesday, March 1, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Land Board will hold a seminar in its large hall in Tallinn (Mustamäe tee 51) to present the results of the European Union's spatial data update project, "Implementation of the INSPIRE Directive."

The project included

• the creation of services that comply with the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive for the data domains in Annexes I, II, and III making the data in the data domains under the responsibility of the Land Board available through services;
• updating the spatial data on land cover in Estonia.

The project was made possible thanks to support from the European Economic Area. The project was implemented by the Land Board, and the program operator was the Ministry of the Environment. The Norwegian Mapping Authority Statens Kartverk provided expertise.

Opening remarks at the seminar were given by representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and the Land Board.

The seminar will feature presentations by the project contractors, OÜ ALPHAGIS and AS Kaardikeskus, and the project client, the Land Board. Users of INSPIRE spatial data services and land cover data will also speak. The seminar will provide data managers with a brief overview of the changes to INSPIRE reporting in 2016.