History and Development in Cadastral System

Dr. Krishna Prasad Bhandari

Overview of cadastral system in SAARC and
developed countries.
• The needs of each country in the region is
different
• There is usually general agreement on the criteria
to measure the success of a cadastral system.
• In measuring success, it is important to take a
broad view of the role of cadastral systems.
• The success of a cadastre can be measured by
the following criteria
• Clarity
• Security Timeliness (and completeness)
• Fairness and Equity
• Cost (which incorporates initial cost, updating
cost and access cost
 Clarity
• System should be clear and simple to understand
and use.
• should be no complexity in its application
• should be a system which can be managed and
operated by land registry officials, without the need
for professional lawyers.
• The system should focus on users at the local level;
• it should not be a bureaucratic centralized system.
 Security Timeliness (and completeness)

• The system should be secure certainty of

ownership rights such that a land market can
operate effectively and efficiently
• so that banks are willing to mortgage land
quickly and securely.
• Security is both for the land owner and the
institution which lends money using the land as
security.
• If land owners default on their mortgage
repayments, the lending authority must be able
to recover its loan simply, cheaply and quickly
 Timeliness (and completeness)

• The cadastral system must be up-to-date and

must include all land parcels in the state or
jurisdiction (timeliness).
• if the system is not current
• the system will encourage the development of an
informal land market which does not use the
official land registry.
 Fairness and Equity
• The development of the cadastral system should
be fair and equitable and be seen to be fair and
equitable.
• It could only be introduced with the support of
the wider community.
• In general it is not desirable that it is developed as
part of a land reform process which is a
• political process with a political agenda (although
this is quite possible).
• It also should not disadvantage the land owners
through a mechanism which imposes land taxation
(although again this is quite possible).
Cost (which incorporates initial cost, updating
cost and access cost
• The system must be low cost albeit this does not
mean appropriate high technology cannot be used.
• The system should not adopt systems used in the
developed world without careful consideration.
• At the same time the system is being developed, an
updating system should be put in place which is
both cheap and effective
 Lessons and issues in developed countries
• The difficulties in developing a clear vision for the role
and structure of the cadastre in an information society
in a state.
• very difficult to develop a clear vision for a future
cadastral system within government due to the
powerful interest of professional organization .
• These interests influence politicians and senior
bureaucrats undermine the successful creation of an
• Updating and upgrading digital cadastral data
bases.
• The emphasis was given to complete a digital
cadastral data base(DCDB) in last decade.
• Now changing from development to maintenance.
• updating and upgrading DCDBs issues are latter
being a much more difficult task.
• This trend is being driven by users as distinct from
the providers in the past
• Economic justification of cadastral systems.

• There are some examples of successful cost-benefit

analyses,

• Thailand Land Titling Project and in Australia (NSW,

Victoria and federally).

• The success of these analyses is not economic

more but in the political impact of the study The
Project Cycle" is informative
• The lack of recognition in a modern western society
that the only constant is change.
• A major factor in cadastral reform is a lack of
experience in the management of change.
• It is human nature to believe that current
arrangements will continue in the future.
• One only has to expect the changes of the last
decade to be convinced of the magnitude of the
• The impact of micro-economic reform not
recognizing the critical role that cadastral systems
play in a modern society with the result
undermined in the medium to long term.
• Components of cadastral systems must be
undertaken as part of a broad well planned
strategy.
• A power shift from the providers of spatial
information to the users.
• A growing interest in the power of spatial data as a
result of the completion of computerized cadastral
systems.
• the reducing power of government and a
resulting increase of power of the private and
academic sectors.
• emphasis on quality assurance.
Lessons and issues in developing countries

• Lack of understanding of the complex systems

required to support an efficient and effective land
market.
• Due to an understanding of the roles and
contributions of the government, private and
academic sectors.
• resulting system is simple and easily understood.
• GIS technology is a solution for all cadastral
problems due to Inappropriate technology and
procedures.
• issues of cost, maintenance, education and training.
• The reality is that many of the systems developed by
western countries issues are of difficult to afforded
by developing countries.
• Computerization should only be introduced into
proven, operational and efficient systems
• The continual search for a "quick fix" which will solve
the cadastral "problem".
• Developing countries and many Eastern European
countries want to make like west
• it is difficult to adapt
• understanding of western systems have often
developed over decades and in many cases
centuries, and
• are underpinned by highly sophisticated legal,
institutional, technical and professional systems
which also take decades to develop.

• These western systems also tend to be very

expensive and cannot be afforded by developing
countries
• Conflict and tensions between customary and
traditional tenures and the western concept of
land ownership and administration.
• The simpler the tenures in a country, the easier it
is to undertake cadastral reform.
• It is also much easier to undertake cadastral
reform if there are already reasonable legal
arrangements in place:
• the reality is that major legislative changes are
very difficult.
• Many developing countries inherited a cadastral
system from a former colonial master;
• today this system is neither appropriate nor can
be afforded
• The need to focus on the needs of the users at
the local level.
• Governments have a natural tendency to
centralize power
• but the reality is that cadastral systems are most
successful if focused at the local level.
• key in this regard is formalizing the informal land
market at the local level
 Conclusion
• The review in the Asia-Pacific region shows that
their cadastral problems are very similar to those
worldwide.
• There are significant technological limitations in
developing and maintaining cadastral systems.
• in cadastral surveying and mapping, the major
impediments to cadastral reform are usually
political, institutional, legal and administrative.
• In undertaking cadastral reform it is important to
have a mechanism to evaluate the success of the
current system in a particular country;
• as a result evaluation criteria have been
proposed.
• In considering solutions, however, it is important
not to underestimate the importance of
technology.
•
• Training in the use and maintenance of
technology is vitally important.
• As a result some guidelines have been proposed
in considering technological options for cadastral
reform.
• There is no doubt that cadastral reform will
continue and most probably accelerate in the
Asia Pacific region.
• However, care must be taken to develop systems
which are appropriate to the needs of the
individual countries and are both economically
and technically sustainable.