It is generaUy preferable to store geotechnical and geological investigation material for possible future use. Old material may be even more valuable than new results in some cases. If the location data for site investigations cannot be identified reliably, it is usually advisable to refrain from using the data at all. Quaternary maps compih,d by the Geological Survey of Finland are available for the entire country. Some municipalities in areas where foundation conditions play a prominent part in the safety and economy of building have worked up their own foundation survey materials into regional geotechnical maps. The use of geotechnical data for planning has always required a three-dimensional viewpoint. 3D analysis requires a joint GIS-type database. These still generally consist of binary files, although a relational database solution is recommended for the management of large bodies of data in particular. The general principle as regards old investigati~ms is that their costs have already been covered, whereas overwise separate search and maintenance costs w~ll be involved. Data users are themselves responsible for the results of older site investigations. One impoT~ant feature is that geotechnical data can be combined with information obtained from other systems.