Cost-Effective 3D Land Administration for Climate Adaptation in Developing Regions

Resumo

The increasing challenges posed by climate change, urban expansion, and the imperative for sustainable land management highlight the critical need for efficient, accessible, and cost-effective 3D cadastral systems. Traditional high-cost techniques have historically limited the adoption of 3D land administration in developing regions, creating a significant barrier to leveraging its full potential for sustainable development and climate adaptation. This study addresses these limitations by exploring the application of open-source and affordable tools for 3D cadastre mapping to foster climate resilience and sustainable development, using Erifun Community, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, as a case study. The research integrates low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and open-source GNSS solutions for 3D cadastral mapping. A DJI Mavic Pro Platinum UAV was employed for aerial photogrammetry, conducting flights at a consistent height of 145m with 80% forward and 72% side overlaps. Emlid RS+ GNSS receivers provided high-precision ground control points. Processing involved QGIS for spatial analysis and Agisoft Metashape 1.5.5 for photogrammetric processing and 3D model generation after initial attempts with OpenDroneMap faced limitations. Spatial accuracy assessment compared GNSS-derived coordinates with digitised points from imagery within QGIS, calculating Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in X, Y, and Z dimensions. The study successfully generated high-precision 3D cadastral maps for Erifun Community at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional techniques, demonstrating significant affordability, accuracy, and efficiency. Critically, the research demonstrated how 3D land administration systems support climate adaptation strategies through flood susceptibility analysis integrated into the cadastral dataset using the Digital Surface Model (DSM) from UAV flights. This provides valuable data-driven insights for urban planning, infrastructure development, and disaster risk reduction, enhancing community resilience. The findings emphasise the potential of open-source and affordable technologies in democratizing access to 3D cadastre technology, empowering local governments and fostering transparency and participation in land governance. Recommendations advocate for scaling up UAV-GNSS integration, enhancing open-source software capabilities, and developing policy frameworks that recognise 3D land administration models in climate resilience strategies.