The bedrock observation and boulder data contain observations that were gathered for different purposes and were originally stored in the Kalpea, Raki, Kivivara, Taajama and Kapalo databases of the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) as well as the Wihta databases of Outokumpu Oy. The conversion of the observations of Rautaruukki Oy to a digital format began in 2009. The observation data of the universities is found stored in several different formats.

The bedrock observation database Kalpea was in use at the GTK during 1989-2009. A significant portion of the bedrock observations made during bedrock mapping at that time and a small part of those made during ore exploration, as well as boulder observations, were gathered in it. As necessary, bedrock and boulder observations made during 1905-1988 were stored in Kalpea retrospectively. Some project data from the universities have also been entered in Kalpea. In the field bedrock and boulder observations were recorded on paper forms and in notebooks as well as drawn on field maps. The original data are stored in the main research archive of the GTK. In 2009 the data were transferred to a new bedrock observation system, Geokernel (‘Geotietoydin’ in Finnish). At the transfer stage there were 390 551 observations in Kalpea.

The position accuracy and content of the observations varies. Prior to 2000, observations were located and positioned with a compass and on the basis of more recent material then available from the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) such as economic maps at a scale of 1:100 000, base or topographic maps at a scale of 1:20 000 as well as black and white or false colour aerial photographs and aerial photography maps. Since 1998, GPS equipment has also been used to position observation points, a practice which became standard in 2009.The most usual information noted are the lithologies in an outcrop and their relative abundances, structures occurring in the rock and tectonic measurements. The latter refers to the measurement of linear and planar features and the trend and attitude of structures. If certain minerals, particularly ore minerals, are clearly present in the rock, this has been recorded as part of the observation. Rock samples are associated with with the observations. Thin sections have been made of selected rock samples to enable more accurate identification. Since 1965 petrophysical laboratory measurements have been carried out on rock samples. Since 1963 geochemical whole rock analyses have been performed on selected type samples from a mapping area. Photographs or sketches may accompany an observation.

Raki is an observation database for the gathering of bedrock observations associated with dimension stone investigations and was used by the GTK during 1991-2009. The data are being transferred to the new Geokernel bedrock observation system during 2010-2011. At the transfer stage there were 13 793 observations in the database.

Kivivara is an observation database for the gathering of bedrock observations associated with rock and mineral aggregate studies and was used by the GTK during 1989-2009. In 2009 the data were transferred to the new Geokernel bedrock observation system. At the transfer stage there were 12 248 observations in the database.

Taajama is an observation database used by the GTK for gathering bedrock observations associated with urban mapping. The database consists of observation from two separate projects during 1999-2002 and 2003-2006. The observations and databases of the projects slightly differ from one another. The data are being transferred to the new Geokernel bedrock observation system during 2010-2011. At the transfer stage there were 952 and 1447 observations in the databases. Besides observations made during bedrock mapping, the data contain detailed information on faulting and jointing.

From 2009-2010, and in part since 2007, all observation data gathered in the mapping programmes of the GTK is entered directly in the Kapalo database using a rugged field laptop and the stored information is transferred to the Geokernal data system. The observations are positioned using GPS equipment. The most usual data noted are the lithologies in the outcrop and their relative abundances, structures occurring in the rock and tectonic measurements. Data storage based on hierarchical value lists occurs in accordance with accepted standards.

Outokumpu Oy carried out bedrock mapping in support of ore exploration in 1952-2003. Bedrock and boulder observations were recorded on paper forms and in notebooks as well as drawn on field maps. The abbreviations used in the forms have been described in the GEOKU II handbook. The original data are stored in an archive at Outokumpu. Outokumpu Oy handed over their ore exploration data to the GTK during 2003-2007 in the Outokumpu-GTK Data Transfer Project. During 2003-2010 the outcrop observations were stored in the Wihta databases. During data transfer to the GTK, the bedrock observations of Rautaruukki Oy and Lapin Malmi Oy were also moved. Their conversion to digital form began in 2009.The positioning accuracy and content of the observations varies. Prior to 2000, observations were located and positioned in the field using a compass and topographic maps. After 2000, the observations were positioned using GPS equipment. The most usual data noted are the lithologies in the outcrop and their relative abundances, structures occurring in the rock and tectonic measurements. The latter refers to the measurement of linear and planar features and the trend and attitude of structures. If the rock is rich in certain minerals, particularly ore minerals, it has been recorded as part of the observation. Samples are often associated with the observations, from which thin sections have been made to enable more accurate identification. From the 1980s, whole rock geochemical analysis of the type samples for the area is often also associated with the specimens.

Universities have produced bedrock observations in different projects associated with bedrock mapping and ore exploration. The data have been handed over to the GTK in several formats. The observation data have been produced in a way similar to the observations of the GTK and Outokumpu Oy.

The bedrock observations have been assembled through the processes of bedrock mapping, ore exploration, dimension stone investigations, rock and mineral aggregate studies and urban mapping. In the future observations additional to those previously mentioned will be gathered in industrial mineral studies, in nuclear waste disposal research and in rock construction investigations.

More recent maps then available from the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) such as economic maps at a scale of 1:100 000, base or topographic maps at a scale of 1:20 0 000 as well as black and white or false colour aerial photographs and aerial photography maps have been used to locate and position bedrock observation points. Since 1998, GPS equipment has also been used to position observation points, a practice which became standard in 2000. Bedrock observations were recorded in observation diaries and on observation forms. The observations have been stored in the data systems then in use. Before 2009 the fields of the data systems did not usually have value lists. Since 2009-2010 data storage based on hierarchical value lists occurs in accordance with accepted standards. A geologist determines a field name for a lithology based on the minerals and structures it contains. Uniform field names have been used in certain areas. The lithological name is clarified later on the basis of geochemical analyses performed on the rock and thin section studies.

The locating and positioning of dimension stone observation points have been done in the same way as in bedrock mapping. A dimension stone observation consists of the bedrock observation as well as the recording of its described properties of quality and usability. Dimension stone observations are written on observation forms and these are transferred to a database. Before 2004 value lists were not used in the observations. In 2004 the RAKI database that operated in the new Oracle environment, and in which some properties had value lists, was introduced. An essential part of a dimension stone observation is an evaluation of usability and quality. Based on a field visit the observations were classed as 'not useful', 'further investigation required', 'site for follow-up' study. Additionally it is mentioned separately if the site is covered by an environmental restriction or if it is rejected for other environmental reasons.

In urban mapping newer base maps available from the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) and GPS devices have been used in the locating and positioning of observation points. The observations have been written on urban mapping forms and stored in an Access databases. Value lists have been used in the databases from the start. In urban mapping, detailed observations about faulting and jointing are made in addition to general notes made during bedrock mapping. In a 2003-2006 mapping project, the observations also contained evaluations of the suitability of the rock for use as an aggregate and dimension stone.

From 1998, observation points were positioned using GPS equipment with an accuracy of > 10 m (< 10 m from 2000). The observations were stored in the bedrock observation databases of the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).

From 2009-2010 observations have been made on a field data storage device direct to a personal database.