AFRY Used Spatial Data Extensively in Its Water Body Surveys for the City of Tampere

The City of Tampere is preparing a master plan for the city center area, which is updated every city council term. The 2021–2025 master plan focuses on climate change adaptation and the development of green environments. The City of Tampere commissioned AFRY to conduct small water and water body studies to provide valuable information related to these main themes about the city center’s water bodies and the broader blue-green infrastructure.

Blue-green infrastructure refers to the combination of small waters (streams, ponds, and springs) and larger water bodies (rivers and lakes).

With the help of the studies conducted by AFRY, the city developed planning guidance that supports climate change adaptation and green environment development.

In addition to the small water and water body studies, AFRY simultaneously prepared the Stormwater Program and updates to the catchment area study and flood study for the City of Tampere.

According to Taru Heikkinen, a specialist planner at the City of Tampere, commissioning all the work from the same consultant created synergy for the master planning process and for various city departments.

Small Water Study Compiles Data into One Database

In 2022, AFRY first completed the small water study for the City of Tampere, followed by a study on lakes, ponds, and springs the following year. The first study focused on streambeds, brooks, and rivers. It utilized an exceptionally wide range of geographic data before field surveys, as it was identified during the planning phase that the city had substantial existing natural data about water bodies and shore areas.

"We wanted to use this information as efficiently as possible as the starting dataset, and fieldwork was directed to areas with less existing data," explains Heikkinen.

The study included an assessment of the natural state and ecological values of the sites, enabling the city to guide land use planning in determining which streams should be preserved in their natural state and which should be restored.

“Tampere has a lot of streams, and many studies have already been done on them. However, this time we compiled all the data into one GIS database and also gathered new information on natural values and species,” says AFRY biologist Anna Väisänen, discussing the special features of the study.

"When all the data is compiled into a single database, it is easy to utilize it for various needs in the future."

Workshops and Collaboration

Another unique aspect of the project was the workshop-style collaboration, which involved AFRY biologists, water management experts in ecohydrology, and geographic information system specialists.

"The greatest benefit of workshop collaboration was that we were able to compile data from different sources at the same time and form a perspective on the hydromorphological state of the stream and the most important ecological values," says Väisänen.

GIS Analysis Conducted Before Field Surveys

Due to the large number of sites to be studied, the study on lakes and ponds was carried out as a separate project from the small water study. In the lake and pond study, AFRY experts reviewed habitat type and species data, and also assessed the natural type and status of lakes and ponds according to endangered species criteria. Key aspects of the study included assessing the natural state of all water body shorelines and mapping the presence of conservation areas such as sandy beaches under the Nature Conservation Act. In this project as well, a broad GIS analysis was conducted before field visits.

Efficient Work Despite Tight Deadlines

The projects faced the challenge of launching work on a large area within a tight timeline and creating new methods. Focusing on geographic information and data analysis at the initial phase helped ensure the smooth progress of the work.

"The size of the work and study area, as well as the tight schedule, created some challenges, but everything was resolved quickly through effective collaboration between the city and the consultant, as well as the consultant’s professionalism," says Heikkinen. She adds that cooperation was smooth and efficient throughout the small water and water body studies.

AFRY’s Studies Provide Extensive Benefits to the City of Tampere

The results of the studies were widely used in the City of Tampere’s master planning process and continue to be utilized by various other city departments. Based on the findings, the green infrastructure in the city center was updated to blue-green infrastructure. This means, among other things, that significant streams were included in the planning map as part of the green infrastructure. Several master plan regulations and their descriptions were clarified based on the studies. The results were also used in studies on urban green development areas and recreational services for shore areas. Planning guidance for the master plan was developed based on these studies.

Praise for the Consultant’s Expertise and Prompt Interaction

The projects were particularly successful in developing study methods and reporting. For example, in areas with open or sparse vegetation, the city’s 3D data was used to assess the natural state of streams remotely. The most efficient methods were selected to map the large study area and report the results within the tight timeline of the master plan process.

According to Taru Heikkinen, more thorough use of existing data has become a general practice in various studies in Tampere and has been applied in other cities in Finland as well.

Heikkinen also highlights the successful, close, and direct collaboration with AFRY. "The consultant had strong expertise in water body studies and was able to handle such a large project within the demanding schedule."

The ongoing master plan for the city center is nearing completion in Tampere.

Project Information

• Client: City of Tampere
• Project: Water Body Studies
• Duration: 2022–2023
• Location: Tampere
• AFRY’s role: Water Body Studies