Guide

Digital technical map: what it contains and what it cannot replace

From 1 July 2024, regions have been operating digital technical maps (DTM) into which network owners are required to record the location of their infrastructure. For builders, this is an excellent tool for initial orientation, but it is often overestimated how much it can resolve.

What is the DTM and where to look at it

The Digital Technical Map is a regional map depicting transport and technical infrastructure, water supply, sewage, energy, telecommunications, and the basic spatial situation (buildings, roads, greenery). Individual regional DTM maps are linked into the DTM of the Czech Republic, overseen by the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre.

You can view them free of charge via the mapping portals of individual regions. You will see which networks are recorded around your plot and who their owner is.

What is a DTM useful for to the builder

• Initial orientation: Before purchasing the plot of land, check whether water supply, sewerage or gas are within reach.
• Basis for the designer: The designer downloads the utility network locations from DTM for the site plan.
• List of owners: DTM will indicate which administrators are affected in your area: i.e., who needs to be contacted.

What a handyman cannot replace

This is the most common mistake. The DTM displays position networks, but does not replace statement from the administrator. This is a document that additionally contains:

• protection conditions - how deep and how far from the network you are permitted to dig, what surveying requires,
• connection conditions - whether and how you can connect to the network,
• legal certainty - the administrator has issued a binding statement on your specific proposal; the location in the DTM may be incomplete or simplified.
• document for the authority - The building authority requires a utility network statement from the affected infrastructure owners, not a map screenshot.

Practically: DTM will tell you, where The networks roughly lead. The utility network statement will tell you, what you are allowed to do with it - and without it, the authority will not approve your proposal and no company is permitted to dig into the ground.

DTM and utility network statements: how they fit together