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TMC Data

Finnish RDS-TMC event list and location table

Contents

This note describes the Finnish location and event tables including which decisions have been made concerning items, which are not part of the Location referencing standards. It also includes recommendations for the composition of messages.

TMC/ALERT-C location data

RDS-TMC is a traffic message channel, which relays traffic information through analog FM radio’s RDS channel. Traffic information includes useful and real time data about road works, accidents, traffic jams and weather. The TMC/ALERT-C material is necessary when using the traffic information. Fintraffic is responsible for administration and distribution of the Finnish TMC data. TMC is developed by the TISA.

The Finnish TMC location database is constantly updated and certified yearly by TISA. For incident broadcasting Fintraffic uses more frequently exported versions of the database. Both certified and these intermediate non-certified versions are downloadable via Digitraffic.

Downloadable content

The structure of the non-certified data differs slightly from that of certified version. These differences between versions are described in Table_format_differences.zip document.

Api-content

Non-certified location content is available also via API-calls:

Full API description is located in Swagger-documentation https://tie.digitraffic.fi/swagger/#/Traffic message V1

Event list

The Finnish event list has expanded from one column to three columns compared to the CEN-English version. One column is for events without attached quantifier, one is for events with attached quantifier = 1 and one for events with attached quantifier > 1. The background for this is that we want the texts to appear as normal as possible for the users of RDS-TMC equipment. Due to the grammatical circumstances in the Finnish language it is not indifferent if the quantifier is singular or plural.

First column (no quantifier): Each event has been examined and it has been decided if the sentence is in singular or plural (which of the versions is most likely to be the right one).

Second column (quantifier = 1): For all events where the quantifiers are numbers without a unit (type 0 and 1 - see Alert C standard) the sentences are finished - either using or not using the number.

If the Finnish words in the sentence signalises the number (=1) then no number is included in the sen-tence (E.g. “Q lane(s) blocked” transformed into Finnish is “kaista suljettu” - “Q kaistaa suljettu “ in plural).

For all other quantifier types the Q is maintained in the event list (E.g. “closed for heavy vehicles (over Q)”).

Third column (quantifier > 1): For all events with quantifiers the Q is maintained.

Comment: Some events do not make any sense without quantifier or with quantifier = 1 (E.g. “next departure Q”). In these cases the cells representing “without quantifier” and “with quantifier = 1” are left empty.

Further examples:

CEN-EnglishNo quantifierQuantifier=1Quantifier=2
(Q) fallen treeskaatuneita puitakaatunut puu2 kaatunutta puuta
(Q) earlier accident(s)aiempi onnettomuusaiempi onnettomuusQ aiempaa onnettomuutta
due to (Q) earlier accident(s)aiemman onnettomuuden vuoksionnettomuuden vuoksiQ aiemman onnettomuuden vuoksi
Current temperature Q--tämänhetkinen lämpötila (Q)

Location Table

All location types are based on the CEN document concerning “Location Referencing for Alert C” (Draft prENV 12313-3).

Preconditions

The location table has been constructed under the following preconditions:

  • That all point names should be unique on one road. A point name consists of a type/subtype (from Loctype), the description (from Firstname) and the number of crossing road (from Secondname) if it exists (it does not yet exist for all points).

  • Finland has a number of domestic ferry routes. These are all included in the location table. For each the Road_number is indicated.

  • It is presumed that for presentation purposes the type/subtype of the locations is taken from the appropriate column in the location table – meaning that the equivalent information is in most cases not included in the Firstname column.

Fields in spreadsheet version of location table

FieldExplanation
CountryNoCountry number to identify the country. Finland has number 6.
TableNoTable number to identify the location database. Finland has numbers 17-24, and is using number 17.
LocationCodeUnique number for each object in the database.
ClassDatabase objects are divided into classes, A= area, L= linear, P = point.
TypeCode of location type. Refer to standard. See 3.3.
SubtypeCode of location subtype. Refer to standard. See 3.3.
Road/JunctionnoRoadnumber for roads. Junctionno: the numbering of exits has only just begun on the very limited Finnish motorway network. The exit numbers will be included. NOTE: the roads, segments and points are not sorted in ascending order.
RoadNameRoadname if exists, L5.0 always have road name.
FirstNameFor roads and segments this is the name of the starting point. For all other objects (linear (streets), area and point) this is the name of the ob-ject.
SecondNameFor roads and segments this is the name of the ending point. For point locations the number of the intersecting road.
AreaRefCode of the upper order administrative area.
LinearRefFor segments and point locations. Describes the code of the segment which these objects belong to. If there are no segments on the road the location code of the road is given instead.
NegOffsetFor segments and point locations. Segments: describes the code of previous segment on that road. For the first segment on the road this code is 0. Points: describes the code of previous point on that road. For the starting point this code is 0.
PosOffsetFor segments and point locations. Segments: describes the code of next segment on that road. For the last segment on the road this code is 0. Points: describes the code of next point on that road. For the last point this code is 0.
UrbanIndicates whether a point is within the city limits (1) or not (0). NOTE: Not actively entered yet.
WGS84LatCoordinate in WGS84, for all points
WGS84LonCoordinate in WGS84, for all points
Etrs_TM35FinXCoordCoordinate in ETRS-TM35FIN.
Etrs_TM35FinYCoordCoordinate in ETRS-TM35FIN.
NegativeDirectionFor all L5.0 and for some roads. Text to be used when the incident has an effect only on vehicles driving in the negative direction of the road. ( e.g. Ring 1 westbound)
PositiveDirectionFor all L5.0 and for some roads. Text to be used when the incident has an effect only on vehicles driving in the positive direction of the road. ( e.g. Ring 1 eastbound)

Types and subtypes

The following types and subtypes are used in the Finnish location table:

Type/subtypeCEN-EnglishFinnish
A1ContinentMaanosa
A2Country groupMaaryhmä
A3CountryMaa
A5Water areaVesistöalue
A5.1seaMeri
A5.2lakeJärvialue
A6Fuzzy areaFuzzy area
A6.1Tourist areaMatkailualue
A6.2Metropolitan areaKaupunkiseutu
A6.3Industrial areaTeollisuusalue
A6.4Traffic areaLiittymäalue
A6.5Meteorological areaSääalue
A6.6Carpool areaKimppakyytialue
A6.7Park and ride siteLiityntäpysäköintialue
A6.8Car park areaPysäköintialue
A7Order 1 areaLääni
A8Order 2 areaMaakunta
A9Order 3 areaKunta
A9.1Rural countyMaalaiskunta
A9.2Urban countyKaupunki
A10Order 4 areaKaupunginosa
A12Application region 
L1RoadTie
L1.1MotorwayMoottoritie
L1.21st Class roadValta- tai kantatie
L1.32nd Class roadSeututie
L1.43rd Class roadYhdystie
L2Ring-roadKehätie
L2.1ring motorwayKehämoottoritie
L2.1other ring-roadmuu kehätie
L3Order 1 segment1. asteen tiejakso
L4Order 2 segment2. asteen tiejakso
L5Urban streetTaajamatie
L6Vehicular linkRaideyhteys
L6.1ferryLauttayhteys
L6.2vehicular rail linkRaideyhteys
P1JunctionLiittymä
P1.1motorway intersectionEritasoliittymä
P1.2motorway triangleMoottoriteiden haarauma
P1.3motorway junctionMoottoritieliittymä
P1.4motorway exitErkanemisramppi
P1.5motorway entranceLiittymisramppi
P1.6flyoverYlikulku
P1.7underpassAlikulku
P1.8roundaboutKiertoliittymä
P1.9giratorylaaja kiertoliittymä
P1.10traffic lightsLiikennevalot
P1.11cross-roadsTasoliittymä
P1.12T-junctionKolmihaaraliittymä
P1.13Intermediate nodeJakopiste
P1.14ConnectionYhteyskaista
P1.15exit 
P2Intermediate pointtekninen piste
P2.1Distance markerEtäisyystaulu
P2.2Traffic monitoring stationLiikennelaskentapiste
P3Other landmark pointmuu piste
P3.1tunnelTunneli
P3.2bridgeSilta
P3.3service areaPalvelupiste
P3.4rest areaLevähdysalue
P3.5view pointNäköalapaikka
P3.6carpool pointKimppakyytipiste
P3.7park and ride siteLiityntäpysäköintipaikka
P3.8car parkPysäköintialue
P3.9kioskKioski
P3.10kiosk with WCkioski ja WC
P3.11petrol stationTankkauspiste
P3.12petrol station with kioskHuoltoasema
P3.13motelhotelli/motelli
P3.14border/frontierRaja
P3.15customs postTulli
P3.16toll plazaTietulli
P3.17ferry terminalLauttaranta
P3.18harbourSatama
P3.19squareTori
P3.20fairAukio
P3.21garagePysäköintihalli
P3.22underground garageMaanalainen pysäköintihalli
P3.23retail parkKauppakeskus
P3.24theme parkHuvipuisto
P3.25tourist attractionMatkailukohde
P3.26universityOppilaitos
P3.27airportLentokenttä
P3.28stationjuna/linja-autoasema
P3.29hospitalSairaala
P3.30churchKirkko
P3.31stadiumUrheilukenttä
P3.32palaceKartano
P3.33castleLinna
P3.34town hallKaupungintalo
P3.35Exhibition/convention centreNäyttelykeskus
P3.36communitiesTaajama
P3.37place name 
P3.38damPato
P3.39DikePenger
P3.40AqueductVesijohto
P3.41LockSulku
P3.42Mountain crossing/passSola
P3.43Railroad crossingrautatien tasoristeys
P3.44WadePengerrys
P3.45FerryLautta
P3.46Industrial areaTeollisuusalue
P 3.47viaduct 
P 4.0link road point 
P 5.0parking POIPysäköinti POI
P 5.1underground parking garageMaanalainen pysäköintihalli
P 5.2car parkPysäköintialue
P 5.3parking garagePysäköintihalli
P 5.4carpool pointCarpool point
P 5.5park and ride siteLiityntäpysäköinti
P 5.6rest area parkingLevähdysaluepysäköinti
P 5.7campgroundLeirintäalue
P 5.8isolated rest areas beside motor-waysErillinen levähdysalue moottori-tiellä
P 6.0other isolated POIMuu erillinen POI
P 6.1airportLentokenttä
P 6.2stationAsema
P 6.3harbourSatama
P 6.4tunnelTunneli
P 6.5bridgeSilta
P 6.6ferryLautta
P 6.7squareTori
P 6.8fairMarkkinat
P 6.9retail parkRetail Park
P 6.10theme parkTeemapuisto
P 6.11tourist attractionMatkailukohde
P 6.12stadiumStadion
P 6.13exhibition/convention centreMessu-/kokouskeskus
P 6.14place namePaikannimi

Important aspects

Some Finnish roads change road type (e.g. Motorway to 1st class road). The fact that it is not in the cur-rent standard possible to indicate the road type on segment level (there is no subtypes for segments) means that it is not possible to indicate where the road type changes for a road.

Examples of RDS-TMC messages

In the examples below are shown the messages as the Finnish Road Administration would like them to be presented. In the road and segment level there are two possibilities depending on the fact that the event is only affecting one direction or both directions.

Example from motorway, two points, one direction

Route: Tie 1 eli Turunväylä

Segment: Helsinki-Salo

Direction: Haittaa ajosuunnassa Salo

Location(s): Paikasta Veikkola suuntaan Palojärvi, tie 2:n liittymä

Event: Queuing traffic due to accident

Tie FINroadnumber eli Roadname SegmentRef FirstName SegmentRef SecondName Haittaa ajosuunnassa SegmentRef SecondName Paikasta SecondaryPointFirstName, tie SecondaryPointSecondname:n liittymä suuntaan Prima-ryPointFirstName, tie PrimaryPointSecondName:n liittymä

Example from motorway, one point, both directions

Route: Tie 1 eli Turunväylä

Segment: Helsinki-Salo

Direction: Haittaa molemmissa ajosuunnissa

Location(s): Palojärvi, tie 2:n liittymä

Event: Accident

Tie FINroadnumber eli Roadname SegmentRef FirstName SegmentRef SecondName Haittaa molemmissa ajosuunnissa PrimaryPointFirstName, tie PrimaryPointSecondName:n liittymä

In the table below the central words (which are not already in the type/subtype-list) for presentation are translated.

EnglishFinnish
RoadTie
‘that is’Eli
Affects the direction to…Haittaa ajosuunnassa
From…toPaikasta…suuntaan
Crossroad:n liittymä
Affects both directionsHaittaa molemmissa ajosuunnissa
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