User-centric dimensions of trust and acceptance in blockchain adoption for land administration systems: A systematic literature review

The digitization of land record management has emerged as a critical research domain in response to long-standing issues of fraud, inefficiency, and lack of transparency in traditional paper-based systems. This abstract synthesizes findings from the top peer-reviewed journals (including Land Use Policy, IEEE Access, Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Wireless Personal Communications, Land (MDPI), Acta Informatica Pragensia, International Journal of Management Studies, ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, and Nepalese Journal on Geoinformatics) to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary Land Record Management Systems (LRMS). A substantial body of literature confirms that traditional land administration is plagued by laborious manual processes, fragmented record-keeping, and a high propensity for forgery and disputes. In response, technological innovations, particularly blockchain and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), have become central to LRMS modernization. Blockchain-based frameworks offer a decentralized, tamper-resistant, and transparent ledger for land transactions, enhancing data integrity, security, and privacy. Recent studies propose novel architectures integrating blockchain with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and smart contracts to automate ownership transfers, reduce reliance on intermediaries, and provide auditable provenance of land titles. Complementing this, GIS and geospatial technologies enable the integration of cadastral maps with textual records, facilitating accurate spatial data management, 3D cadastre, and informed urban planning. Concurrently, the literature highlights persistent socio-technical challenges. Research on India's Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) reveals that while digitization has progressed, issues such as legacy data quality, institutional inertia, inter-departmental silos, and the difficulty of transitioning from "presumptive" to "guaranteed" titling remain substantial hurdles. Studies from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia similarly find that success depends critically on addressing digital infrastructure inequality, low digital literacy, and resistance from entrenched administrative practices. Furthermore, emerging research on artificial intelligence (AI) in land administration points to promising applications—such as automated document verification and predictive analytics—while also underscoring technical, legal, and institutional barriers to adoption.

The article examines international standards for the protection of agricultural land and the peculiarities of their implementation in Ukraine under conditions of modern transformations of land relations caused by European integration processes, global environmental challenges, and the consequences of martial law. The relevance of the topic is determined by the necessity to harmonize national land legislation with international environmental and legal standards aimed at ensuring sustainable land use and preservation of soil fertility. Based on the analysis of international legal acts, the practice of international institutions, and Ukrainian legislation, it is established that international standards form a comprehensive approach to agricultural land protection combining environmental, economic, and social aspects of land resource management. It is clarified that international approaches to the protection of agricultural land are grounded on the principles of sustainable development, prevention of land degradation, rational land use, ensuring food security, and protection of property rights. It is determined that international treaties, recommendations of international organizations, and the practice of European judicial institutions play an important role in shaping the national system of land protection, influencing the development of legal mechanisms of public land administration. The study substantiates that the adaptation of Ukrainian land legislation to international and European standards is carried out through improvement of legal regulation of agricultural land circulation, development of digital cadastral systems, implementation of transparent mechanisms for monitoring land use, and strengthening environmental control. Particular attention is paid to the impact of decentralization on the effectiveness of land resource management and the expansion of powers of local self-government bodies in the field of land protection. It is concluded that the implementation of international standards for agricultural land protection constitutes a necessary prerequisite for the formation of a modern, efficient, and environmentally oriented land policy in Ukraine. Such an approach contributes to achieving a balance between economic development of the agricultural sector, environmental protection, and safeguarding the rights of landowners and land users, while also creating legal foundations for the restoration of land resources in the post-war period.

Aim of the study The study aims to substantiate the role of land consolidation as an effective instrument for spatial planning and sustainable development of territorial communities in Ukraine. Specifically, it focuses on the context of post-war recovery and land-use transformation, identifying the necessary organizational and legal foundations for introducing land consolidation to ensure growth in the agricultural sector. Materials and methods The theoretical basis comprises scientific works on land consolidation by domestic and international scholars, legislative acts, and analytical data on territorial development. The methodological framework employs a systematic approach, utilizing structural-logical analysis and synthesis to examine the interactions within the land management system. Results and conclusions The study demonstrates that land consolidation is a pivotal mechanism for overcoming fragmentation, improving land-use efficiency, and strengthening rural development in Ukraine. It enhances agricultural productivity, supports environmental protection, and upgrades land administration systems. The analysis indicates that modern consolidation must integrate social, economic, and ecological priorities, aligning with spatial planning and ensuring community participation. Given post-war challenges and the lack of a comprehensive legal framework, implementing land consolidation is crucial for effective reconstruction, sustainable land management, and the long-term resilience of territorial communities.

ABSTRACT Land fragmentation in Ghana, driven by intergenerational inheritance, peri-urban expansion and institutional mismanagement, undermines agricultural productivity and tenure security. Over 80% of land is governed under customary tenure, yet weak coordination between statutory and traditional systems fuels disputes and exclusion. This study combines a systematic literature review with fieldwork in Kpaguri and Sombo, Ghana, to analyse fragmentation's socio-economic and governance impacts. Findings reveal that customary authorities increasingly prioritise land commodification over communal stewardship, sidelining smallholders, women and youth. Despite reforms like the Land Administration Project, formalisation efforts remain inaccessible to rural communities, reinforcing elite control. The study highlights governance failures, overlapping mandates and unenforced policies that perpetuate insecurity. It advocates for hybrid models integrating participatory documentation, inclusive land boards and gender-sensitive reforms to reconcile customary legitimacy with equitable governance, addressing fragmentation as a governance crisis rooted in power imbalances.

This community service program aims to enhance the understanding of the residents of Seri Dalam Village, Tanjung Raja Subdistrict, Ogan Ilir Regency, regarding land rights, land registration procedures (PTSL), land dispute mediation techniques, and the criminal aspects of land grabbing. The program was carried out through educational and consultative legal counseling, involving 25 participants, mostly landowners of plantations. Evaluation results show a significant improvement in the participants' knowledge, with high N-Gain scores (above 0.7) across all assessed indicators. The greatest improvement was seen in the understanding of the urgency of land certificates as a valid legal proof of ownership (53%). Additionally, the program successfully educated participants on land dispute mediation procedures and reinforced the role of the Village Head as the Village Peace Judge. As a sustainable output, a land legalization procedure module was handed over to the village office to be used as a guide in managing land administration services. This program is expected to raise legal awareness and improve land administration order in the village, as well as contribute to the economic stability of the community through more orderly and legal land management. Moving forward, similar programs should be expanded to have a greater impact on empowering communities based on agrarian law.

Introduction: This community service activity is motivated by the condition of land data in Pekuncen Village, Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province, which is obsolete both physically and substantively. This condition has resulted in disorderly village land administration that has led to legal cases involving village officials. Such disorder is caused by limitations in human resources in mastering appropriate technology.Purposes of The Devotion: The purpose of this community service is to provide appropriate technology transfer for updating village land data in order to achieve orderly village land administration and legal certainty.Method of The Devotion: The methods used include socialization, mentoring, and monitoring and evaluation of activity outcomes to support sustainability.Results Main Findings of the Devotion: The results of this community service demonstrate a significant impact on improving the capacity of village officials’ human resources through a series of activities that serve as solutions to the identified problems, namely: 1) enhanced understanding of village officials regarding valid documents as the basis for the history of land ownership; 2) improved mastery of computerized administration of juridical land data to ensure greater accuracy and effectiveness in addressing physical document issues of the Letter C Book, which is no longer feasible and contains many torn or missing pages; and 3) improved capacity in managing the administration of juridical land data renewal.

The article proposes an assessment-oriented national profile of the Land Administration Domain Model for Ukraine, which sets out a unified logic for integrating cadastral, legal, urban planning, and market information in a format suitable for mass assessment and taxation of real estate. The conceptual framework is based on the provisions of ISO 19152-1:2024 and ISO 19152-4:2025, and the subject area is structured in the form of a UML model with the definition of key entities and relationships between spatial units, legal statuses, and valuation results. To transition from disparate registries and cartographic materials to a coordinated “valuation-ready” dataset, an intermediate layer of semantic harmonization is justified, including unified identifiers, classifiers, and attribute normalization rules. A practical scenario for forming an MVP showcase for mass valuation with the fixation of data sources and quality control indicators (completeness of key fields, duplicates, spatial inconsistencies, price outliers) is described. The technological implementation of the profile is supported by an open stack of PostgreSQL/PostGIS, QGIS, and Python, which ensures the reproducibility of calculations, the auditability of decisions, and the possibility of scaling for the needs of communities and government agencies. The proposed approach forms the basis for conducting various types of assessments (regulatory, market, and mass) in a single information loop.Received: 15.12.2025;Accepted: 14.01.2026;

Land disputes constitute a persistent and destabilising governance challenge in Puntland, Somalia, driven by weak land administration systems, contested public land allocations, and widespread informal occupation. In contexts where enforcement mechanisms are limited, such disputes can escalate into organised violence and large-scale displacement, undermining social cohesion and local governance structures. This study examines the scale, dynamics, and implications of land disputes in Puntland, particularly their impact on governance systems and social stability. To address these dimensions, the study adopts a qualitative research design, framed as a program evaluation with a case-oriented analytical approach, drawing on numerous data sources, including analysis of unpublished training and field reports from seven districts, and key informant interviews with purposively selected local government officials, judicial actors, land conflict management committee members, and community representatives who participated in the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Democratization of Puntland interventions. In addition, a case study of the Sheerbi conflict is used to illustrate the dynamics and severity of land disputes. Through this integrated design, the study assesses how these interventions have influenced local dispute resolution practices, mediation processes, and compliance with Puntland’s Urban Land Management Law (Law No. 2 of 25 August 2020). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis to identify recurring patterns and institutional challenges. The findings indicate that land disputes remain among the most critical drivers of instability in Puntland. These conflicts often stem from the absence of effective state control over land governance, contestation over public land allocations, and the prevalence of informal settlement practices involving individuals who are often involved with armed actors capable of mobilising. In some instances, the public officials, particularly those serving as mayors or executive secretaries within local governments, are among the primary actors involved in land grabbing and as major beneficiaries of illicit land accumulation, contributing to governance deficits. The study highlights the need for reforms to strengthen land governance systems, including the digitalisation of land registration processes, enhanced community engagement mechanisms, alignment and enforcement of local by-laws with state legislation, and setting up systematic land dispute incident reporting frameworks. These measures are critical to promoting sustainable conflict resolution and long-term stability in land administration.

This scientific article is dedicated to a systematic study of the transformation of land administration in Ukraine amidst global digitalization. The priority objective of the work is to develop a logically consistent model of land relations based on the integration of modern geodetic tools and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In the course of the study, a comprehensive set of scientific methods was applied, including: the method of systemic analysis – to identify deficiencies in domestic land management compared to international FAO UN standards; the method of mathematical logic and formalization – to describe land administration principles as the system's fundamental axioms; graph theory apparatus – to construct a structural model of connections between methodological foundations and practical industries of influence; and category theory apparatus – to develop commutative diagrams representing dynamic transformations (morphisms) of geospatial data into administrative decisions. The paper provides a detailed analysis of ten international principles of land administration, interpreted through the lens of GIS technologies. For the first time, a conceptual model has been developed where «Land Administration» is presented as a central node (object) connecting the theoretical basis with actual and prospective development sectors. The transition from traditional data collection methods to intelligent systems utilizing GNSS, LiDAR, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence algorithms is substantiated. The scientific novelty lies in the development of a commutative diagram for the land resource management category, which allows for the formalization of innovation implementation processes in Ukrainian land management, ensuring transparency, sustainable development, and economic efficiency of the system. The results obtained form a theoretical and methodological foundation for the digitalization of land relations and the elimination of "legal noise" through the mathematical ordering of administrative procedures. The research emphasizes that the synergy of high-precision geodesy and spatial analysis tools acts as a catalyst for shifting from quantity-based land registration to quality-based capital management, aligning Ukraine’s land policy with European democratic and legal values.

ABSTRACT Developing countries are urged to adopt fit-for-purpose land administration (FFPLA) to address global land administration challenges under rapid urbanisation. The FFPLA has proven cost-effective in initialising the formalisation of land tenure as a key input into planning and land development. However, its long-term ability to support planning, particularly its suitability for high-value, rapidly changing urban contexts remains uncertain. This study assesses Rwanda’s FFP implementation, focusing on contextual factors, methods used, and current capacity to address urban planning needs. Findings highlight gaps between policy ambitions and practical outcomes, calling for adjustments to better support planning and sustainable urban development.

The registration of ulayat (customary communal) land remains a critical issue in Indonesia’s agrarian governance, particularly in relation to ensuring legal certainty while respecting the rights of indigenous communities. This study aims to examine the legal framework and implementation of ulayat land registration as a mechanism for providing legal certainty through certification based on the principle of justice. The research employs a normative juridical approach combined with a socio-legal perspective by analysing statutory regulations, legal doctrines, and relevant case practices concerning customary land rights within the Indonesian land administration system. The findings reveal that although national land regulations formally recognise the existence of ulayat rights, their registration and certification processes remain limited due to normative ambiguities, administrative constraints, and inconsistencies in recognising customary communities. As a result, many indigenous communities experience difficulties in obtaining formal legal protection for their communal land. The study further shows that a justice-based certification model—one that integrates recognition of customary institutions, participatory mapping, and adaptive regulatory mechanisms—can strengthen legal certainty while safeguarding communal ownership values embedded in customary law. This research contributes to the development of agrarian law and socio-legal scholarship by proposing a justice-oriented framework for ulayat land registration that harmonises state land administration with customary legal principles. The study also offers policy recommendations for improving regulatory coherence and institutional coordination to enhance the protection of indigenous land rights and promote equitable land governance.

The land is a vital natural resource on which life and development activities rely. Changes in LULC are often the result of anthropogenic activities. LULC change detection helps understand the magnitude of human impact on the environment and, in turn, identify sustainable management options. The present study uses GIS and remote sensing techniques as practical tools to monitor spatiotemporal patterns of LULC change in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia, between 1993 and 2023. The Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS C2 L2, Landsat 7 ETM+ C2 L2, and Landsat 5 TM C2 L2 satellite images were used for mapping. Sufficient training samples were taken by integrating several band combinations, and a signature file was generated. The maximum likelihood algorithm was employed in supervised classification, and five LULC classes were generated. The accuracy of each classified map was appraised using accuracy assessment data and high-resolution Google Earth Pro and validated employing a confusion matrix and Kappa statistics. The Kappa values for the LULC maps of 1993, 2003, 2013, and 2023 were 87.43%, 90.81%, 92.26%, and 94.67%, respectively. The finding revealed a significant change in LULC classes within the past three decades. Between 1993 and 2023, the regions occupied by agricultural and bare land decreased by 539.97 km² (− 33.32%) and 364.78 km² (− 34.21%), with annual rate changes of − 18 km²/year (− 1.11%) and − 12.16 km²/year (-1.14%), respectively. Conversely, a significant increment has been seen in areas of vegetation cover about 736.73 km2 (45.14%), built-up areas by 102.64 km2 (63.48%), and water bodies by 65.38 km2 (229.66%) with an annual rate of change of 24.56 km2/year (1.5%), 3.4 km2/year (2.12%), and 2.18 km2/year (7.66%), respectively. The LULC transition matrix indicated that agricultural land experienced the largest decline, primarily converting to vegetation cover (682.11 km²). Despite decade-level fluctuations in the average temperature, the 30-year change indicates a net increase of 1.49 °C, primarily due to urban expansion, suggesting a general warming trend. The findings may offer valuable insights to experts, environmentalists, decision-makers, land managers, and planners for sustainable land administration, monitoring changes, and fostering a balanced and healthy environment for future generations.

Land registration systems are fundamental for maintaining legal ownership records and ensuring property rights. However, conventional land registration systems rely on centralized authorities and manual record management, making them vulnerable to fraud, unauthorized modification, corruption, and data inconsistency. Manipulation of land records often results in ownership disputes, delayed transactions, and loss of public trust in land administration authorities. This paper proposes a Blockchain-Based Secure Land Registration System that provides transparency, immutability, and integrity for land ownership records. The system records land transactions in a blockchain ledger where each transaction is cryptographically linked using the SHA-256 hashing algorithm. Smart contracts are employed to automate ownership transfer and enforce predefined rules, reducing reliance on intermediaries. The proposed framework ensures tamper detection, verifiable ownership history, and secure record management. The system is lightweight, cost-effective, and suitable for institutional and governmental land administration. The implementation demonstrates that blockchain technology significantly enhances trust, transparency, and reliability in land registration processes.

Systematic land registration has become a key instrument for enhancing legal certainty and preventing agrarian disputes, yet administrative approaches alone face limitations due to data inaccuracies, overlapping claims, and boundary objections. This article examines the role of community participation in systematic land registration using a juridical-empirical and socio-legal approach, incorporating regulatory analysis, interviews, field observations, and land document review. The findings show that meaningful community participation serves as a mechanism for social verification of land data, early detection of potential disputes, and improved accountability in land administration. Its effectiveness depends on transparency, facilitation quality, inclusivity, and institutional integrity, while challenges include low legal literacy, local power dynamics, and limited evidentiary capacity. The study recommends strengthening participatory frameworks, data disclosure, and community-based legal assistance to support equitable and sustainable land registration.

Blockchain technology has increasingly drawn the attention of governments seeking to modernize public services through transparent, secure, and efficient digital infrastructures. Drawing on case studies from diverse regions, including the UAE, Estonia, Georgia, Colombia, and multiple Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, this systematic review synthesizes implementation patterns across domains such as land administration, digital identity, procurement, and intergovernmental payments. The critical analysis highlights blockchain’s capacity to establish tamper-evident records, automate verification, and reduce administrative overhead while also addressing technical and institutional factors that shape its impact. Outcomes across successful deployments suggest that benefits are most pronounced when blockchain aligns with real governance needs and is supported by robust legal and digital infrastructure. This review also identifies key barriers to adoption, including interoperability challenges, regulatory uncertainty, limited technical capacity, and resistance to organizational change. Notably, this review highlights a critical but underexplored dimension involving the need for public accountability not only in service delivery but also in the governance of blockchain systems themselves. By examining real-world use cases alongside technical and policy frameworks, this review advances a deeper understanding of blockchain’s role in reshaping public administration and sets a research agenda for building more trusted, auditable, and inclusive digital government systems.

This study aims to evaluate the administration of regional property in Wakatobi Regency. This research uses a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection methods are observation, interviews and documentation, researchers use qualitative data analysis techniques, namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The informants of this research were three (3) employees of the asset sector at the Regional Finance and Asset Agency of Wakatobi Regency. The results of this study indicate that the administration of regional milk goods at the Regional Finance and Asset Agency has not been carried out in accordance with Permendagri No. 19 of 2016 concerning Guidelines for the Management of Regional Property and Government Regulation No. 71 of 2010 concerning Government Accounting Standards, this is because the implementation related to inventory is still encountered obstacles, namely regional property that is no longer known to exist. As for reporting, it is also often late in reporting carried out by each OPD, this is due to the large number of regional property managed by these OPDs. There are also land assets that are still worth Rp.00 and do not have certificates. Problems with the administration of land fixed assets that exist at this time are caused by several factors, namely problems brought since the division with Buton Regency, grants from the community and the census of regional property has not been completed.

This study examines disparities in land economic value in public land acquisition in Indonesia, focusing on distortions generated by land mafia practices. Employing a normative juridical approach with statutory, conceptual, and comparative analyses, this research integrates land value theory, justice theory (John Rawls), legal philosophy (Gustav Radbruch), and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah as developed by Jasser Auda. The findings reveal that land value inequality is not merely a market-driven phenomenon but is structurally produced by regulatory loopholes, weak law enforcement, and institutional vulnerability, which collectively enable land mafia networks to manipulate land valuation, ownership documentation, and compensation mechanisms. These conditions result in unfair redistribution of economic benefits, marginalization of lawful landholders, and delays in public development projects. This study argues that existing positive law frameworks, particularly Law No. 2 of 2012 on Land Acquisition for Public Interest, emphasize formal legality but insufficiently address substantive justice and property protection. To address this gap, the research proposes a contextual reconstruction of Islamic law grounded in ḥifẓ al-māl (protection of property), ‘adl (justice), and maṣlaḥah (public interest). This reconstruction operationalizes maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah into concrete regulatory strategies, including transparent valuation standards, participatory compensation models, integrated digital land administration, institutional accountability, and community legal empowerment. The novelty of this study lies in transforming maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah from a normative ethical framework into an operational legal instrument for land governance reform. By integrating Islamic legal principles with positive law, this research offers a conceptual model for addressing land value inequality and strengthening protection against land mafia practices, contributing to the development of a more just, transparent, and socially sustainable land acquisition system.

This article analyzes the transfer of Mortgage Rights resulting from the assignment of receivables (cessie) within the framework of land and administrative law. The issue arises from differing interpretations of Article 16 paragraph (1) of the Mortgage Law concerning the phrase “by operation of law” in relation to the principle of publicity in land registration. Using a normative legal method with statutory and administrative law approaches, this study examines the juridical status of recording the transfer of Mortgage Rights at the Land Office. The findings show that although Mortgage Rights follow the receivable under the principle of accessorium sequitur principale, the transfer only gains external legal effect after being recorded in the land register. Such recording constitutes a land administrative act that fulfills the characteristics of a State Administrative Decision, as it is concrete, individual, and final, producing legal consequences for the new creditor. Therefore, legal certainty and protection depend on the legality of the administrative action carried out in accordance with the principles of legality and good governance.

The digital transformation of land administration through the issuance of Electronic Land Certificates is part of the modernization of public services aimed at increasing efficiency, transparency, and legal certainty. However, the implementation of electronic systems also raises various legal issues, particularly regarding state responsibility and accountability mechanisms in the event of administrative errors, system failures, or data leaks. This study aims to analyze the concept of state responsibility, forms of legal accountability, and the application of the principle of legality in the issuance of electronic land certificates. The research method used is normative juridical with a statutory, conceptual, and comparative approach. The research findings indicate that although electronic land certificates have a valid legal basis and the same evidentiary force as conventional certificates, weaknesses remain in the accountability mechanisms, division of responsibilities, and redress of rights for injured parties. Substantive legal certainty depends heavily on system reliability, data security, and the professionalism of administrators. This research concludes that technology integration in land administration must be accompanied by strengthened regulations, transparency, and clear accountability mechanisms to ensure legal protection and the principle of legality.