Karoliina Kaikkonen
Title: DIGITAL CEMETERY SERVICES AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF CEMETERY DIGITALISATION
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Veiko Lember
Opponent: Dr. Jaanus Müür
Defense: 8 June 2026
Abstract: Cemeteries are not only burial spaces but also places of remembrance, cultural heritage, family history, and local memory. Burial records form part of the administrative infrastructure through which burial services are organised and documented. Because cemetery information has often been managed through paper-based and fragmented systems, digitalisation has become increasingly important for record preservation, accessibility, and cemetery management. Existing digital cemetery systems have primarily been developed for internal administrative purposes, while their potential to support citizens more directly has received less attention. This thesis examines how cemetery digitalisation support citizen engagement, accessibility, remembrance, and interaction with cemetery spaces. The study uses a qualitative case study approach based on semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and contextual observations. The findings suggest that digital cemetery systems can improve access to burial information, grave navigation, administrative processes, and cultural engagement with cemeteries. At the same time, the findings highlight tensions related to privacy, dignity, digital exclusion, and the governance of sensitive memorial information. The thesis argues that digital cemetery systems should be understood not only as administrative infrastructures but also as public and memorial infrastructures connected to cultural memory, accessibility, and citizen engagement.
