The Avoin Map project has reached its mid-term stage in the PoliRuralPlus Develop Call, with strong progress across all three planned digital map services: Energy, Zoning, and Activities. The project is being implemented in the Mallusjoki pilot region in Finland by Avoin Map Oy, Feydec Oy, and Saatsi Arkkitehdit Oy.

The purpose of the project is to support rural-urban development through open-source digital tools that improve local visibility, sustainable planning, and community-driven development. In Mallusjoki, this means supporting the rural events ecosystem, strengthening cultural identity, and making planning tools more accessible for local stakeholders, municipalities, and experts.

During the first half of the project, the consortium has completed major technical and design milestones. For Energy Map, the backend database architecture has been programmed and documented, and the user interface design is ready for implementation. The tool is being developed to help users assess building-related energy data and support discussion on renovation and green upgrade options.

For Zoning Map, a functioning private online test version is now available and is being tested by Mallusjoki stakeholders and national institutes. The service supports climate-conscious land-use planning by helping users evaluate carbon storage, carbon sinks, and the impacts of zoning and infrastructure choices. New features include line infrastructure planning, improved basemaps, editable land-use assumptions, updated emissions and sink logic, and geospatial file export.

The third service, Activity Map and Calendar, has also moved forward significantly. Avoin Map Oy has completed the first main landing page mockup for the service, which is intended to make local activities, attractions, and events easier to discover and promote year-round. The service is being designed in close cooperation with local and regional stakeholders, including the Mallusjoki Youth Association, the City of Orimattila, and the Päijät-Häme Regional Council.

The project has also supported practical planning for the Mallusjoki community building. Saatsi Arkkitehdit Oy has carried out laser scanning, drone imaging, and baseline planning work for the site together with the Mallusjoki Youth Association. This work helps connect digital planning tools with real local development needs.

At mid-term, the project remains fully on schedule. Early results show stakeholder interest and potential for replication in other Finnish regions and beyond. By combining open-source software, open geospatial data, and local co-design, Avoin Map is building practical tools that strengthen rural vitality, support sustainable development, and integrate with innovative PoliRuralPlus tools.

The Avoin Map project has received funding from the PoliRuralPlus project, which is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101136910.