Anticipating the further development of cadastral systems

Abstract

Although this paper recognises the merits of the evolution of cadastral systems towards an increased capability over time, it promotes a radical introduction or overhaul of existing cadastral systems. It encourages the development of a capability to cope with some key drivers of major change. These have been identified as globilisation, the advent of fully automated cadastral environments, improved decentralised methods of governance and greatly improved service delivery of future cadastral systems to a wide range of users. This paper promotes the registration of title supported by government guarantee as an effective means of rapidly introducing cadastral systems to facilitate globally competitive land markets in developing countries. In developing automated environments for cadastral systems, the need to completely re-engineer and redesign cadastral systems to meet basic cadastral principles and responsiveness to individual user needs is promoted. In this environment, highly decentralised cadastral operations and administration combined with light regulatory control are advocated as a future governance strategy. In regard to the level of services to users a emphasis on recognising and serving the future needs of users is seen as essential. International and national professional and user organisations involved in land administration are seen as an important vehicle for developing strategies and providing evaluation to guide the overarching development of cadastral systems around the world.