LAND INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

The paper describes land records in developing countries and examines their land-information needs, both for day-to-day administration and for development purposes. The conclusion is that Land Information Systems are needed, but that financial, manpower, administrative and technological support constraints are significant. A cautious stage-by-stage approach to the adoption of fully integrated computerised Land Information Systems is recommended.The authors, both formerly with the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, hold senior posts in the Overseas Surveys Directorate of the Ordnance Survey. They have drawn from the extensive experience of DOS and OSD in dealing with surveying, mapping and land tenure records in many developing countries over the last 30 years.This paper is a shortened version of a paper presented at the XVIIIth FIG Congress in Toronto in June 1986.