FIG Joint Land Administration Conference
A Federação Internacional de Geômetras – FIG foi fundada em 1878 e é uma organização não governamental, reconhecida pelas Nações Unidas e pelo Banco Mundial, de associações nacionais de membros, agências cadastrais e de mapeamento e ministérios, universidades e empresas de mais de 120 países.
Land Regularization in São Sebastião (SP): Advanced Technologies for Cadastre Update and Land Management
The Municipality of São Sebastião (SP), with approximately 402 km² and 84,000 inhabitants, faces significant challenges of disorderly urban expansion, with irregular occupations in areas of complex topography and risk. To support the Urban Land Regularization (REURB) process, a cadastral update of several settlements was conducted through a High-Precision Planialtimetric Cadastral Survey (LEPAC), in compliance with Decree No. 9,310/2018 and NBR 13.133:2021. The methodology synergistically combined technologies such as GNSS-RTK, SLAM, and aerial imagery with 6 cm resolution (GSD), enabling three-dimensional mapping and the precise vectorization of features in densely built-up areas. The data were integrated into the Geopixel Cidades platform, generating a geospatial database for territorial analysis and decision support. Although the approach proved effective, the study acknowledges limitations such as operational field challenges and the need for continuous investment for the cadastre's sustainability. As a result, the municipality advanced in land titling, promoting legal certainty and access to services. The approach establishes itself as a replicable model, demonstrating the potential of geospatial technologies to modernize territorial management and enhance the effectiveness of land regularization policies in Brazil.
High-Precision Planialtimetric Cadastral Survey (LEPAC)
Copyright (c) 2025 FIG Joint Land Administration Conference
Bibliometric Analysis of the Use of UAVs in Urban Area Cadastre
With the technological advancement of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), new applications are being incorporated into municipal dynamics for territorial management. Uses such as monitoring irregular settlements and inspecting construction sites have become commonplace for bodies responsible for territorial management. However, the utility of UAVs for planning and cadastral updating purposes is increasingly significant. The multipurpose cadastre is the official record of a municipality's land parcels, requiring periodic updates of parcel boundaries, primarily for fiscal purposes, to ensure fair tax collection. Given the growing interest in UAVs applications and the constant need for updated territorial information, this study conducts a systematic bibliometric review to better understand the relationship and contributions of UAVs to the qualification of the territorial cadastre. The Scopus database was used as the primary data source, and bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The search, conducted in April 2025, targeted documents until 2024. The bibliometric analysis of 140 results demonstrates a significant increase in publications over the last decade, with 2023 and 2024 having the highest number (18 and 22, respectively). China (21), Germany (13), the USA (10), the Netherlands (9), and Italy (9) were the most productive countries. A qualitative analysis of 13 key publications highlights the evolution from technical validation and accuracy comparisons with traditional methods towards practical applications in land rights registration, disaster response, tax inspection, and 3D cadastre. While most academic works recognize the relationship between UAV use and cadastral improvement, few delve into the challenges of integrating this data with pre-existing legal systems, the long-term sustainability of UAV-based programs, or the direct benefits for territorial governance and local populations.
The Role of Digital Transformation for Integrated
Land rights, restrictions and responsibilities are closely linked to land management in general and spatial planning in particular. Both systems - land tenure and land use planning - involve the distribution, regulation and use of land resources, but they usually operate through different processes and are influenced by different policies, institutions and legal frameworks. In many contexts, institutions that document and disseminate information on land tenure, typically cadastral offices and land registries, and institutions that deal with land use planning, typically planning authorities, operate in silos. Weak governance structures and poor institutional coordination of land tenure and land use planning can lead to inefficient processes, ineffective enforcement and poor community support, and even conflict due to inconsistencies. The advent of digital transformation offers significant opportunities to overcome these silos and strengthen linkages, improving efficiency, transparency and decision-making processes. The paper hooks onto earlier works of the joint FIG Commission 7 and Commission 8 Working Group 7.6/8.4 on Integrated Land Management and refers to the previously presented conceptual framework to assess these linkages and to identify the role of digitalisation and digital transformation in this context. The main categories relate to I) Institutions and governance; II) Legal framework and policy; and III) Data and technology.The case studies from Mexico and Brazil are contextualised and evaluated alongside general developments on the Latin American continent. Data were collected through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with key experts in both countries. The findings shed light on the three lenses of the conceptual framework and emphasise the relevance of digitalisation in implementing integrated land management. The preliminary results show that in practice digitisation is a balancing act between internal and external forces on the one hand and gradually manoeuvring between what is technically possible and operationally feasible on the other hand. Internal forces hindering major transformations in day-to-day workflows concern vested interests of professional standards and practices, as well as internal territorial or functional mandates. External influences generally concern advocacy agencies with their own information systems and indicator systems which are largely incompatible with existing internal ones. This paper concludes with a discussion on potential use cases and different user perspectives on integrated land management.
Mapping Academic Capacity in Geomatics and Land Administration Worldwide
Geomatics plays a fundamental role in addressing global challenges, integrating six interconnected pillars: geography; geodesy and surveying; Earth observation (photogrammetry, remote sensing); geoinformatics (GIS, spatial databases, territorial analysis); cartography; and land administration. Within this framework, land administration is not external to geomatics but one of its core pillars, when addressed from a technical and engineering perspective (e.g. cadastral information management, land tenure systems, technical land registration, and spatial data infrastructures). This holistic perspective positions geomatics as both a technological and institutional discipline, bridging science, society, and policy. This presentation introduces an interactive web-based map viewer designed to explore and analyze university-level geomatics programs worldwide. The dataset was compiled exclusively from publicly available information (university websites, study catalogs, and accreditation databases). Programs were included if they are explicitly named Geomatics, Geographic/Geospatial Engineering, Geodesy, Surveying, Cartographic Engineering, or Land Administration when the latter has a technical/engineering focus. Programs dealing with land administration solely from a social sciences perspective were excluded. To ensure academic and professional relevance, all inclusions were validated with the approval of FIG members, who represent the profession globally and safeguard against academic intrusions outside the discipline. Standardized metadata (official title, institution, country, degree level, core subjects, URL, and date of access) was recorded to enable comparison and filtering. The viewer allows users to search and filter programs, analyze geographic distribution and curricular content, and identify institutional clusters, thematic gaps (e.g. weak integration of land administration in certain regions), and emerging trends in curriculum development. Limitations such as incomplete data, language barriers, and uneven institutional reporting are acknowledged. These are mitigated by the dynamic update mechanism: the platform evolves continuously through contributions from FIG members, academic institutions, and researchers, with transparent versioning. The insights produced are not only descriptive but actionable, providing evidence to guide curriculum enhancement, foster international cooperation, and target capacity building in underrepresented regions. The presentation will demonstrate the platform’s functionalities, highlight selected analytical findings, and show how this initiative can support the alignment of geomatics education with the pressing challenges of climate geo-resilience and sustainable development.
Diretrizes para um Modelo Teórico de Sistema Cadastral Territorial adequado ao Brasil
O trabalho propõe um modelo inovador para estruturar um Cadastro Territorial Brasileiro unificado, multifinalitário e juridicamente seguro, essencial para superar a ineficiência da gestão territorial atual, causada pela fragmentação das bases cadastrais. Ancorada em experiências como o SIGEF e princípios internacionais, a proposta estabelece onze premissas técnicas e jurídicas, como a adoção da parcela como unidade básica e sua integração com o Registro de Imóveis. O modelo inova ao distinguir entre parcelas certificadas (alta precisão, aptas ao registro, custo do proprietário) e não certificadas (métodos indiretos, provisórias), permitindo uma implantação escalonada, e introduz o conceito de Objetos Territoriais para modelagem multidimensional. Sua viabilidade é garantida pela conformidade com avanços normativos como a ABNT NBR 17.047/2022 e a Portaria MDR nº 3242/2022, que fornecem o arcabouço técnico e institucional necessário para a concretização de um sistema cadastral nacional moderno, com atualização diária e focado na integração entre território e propriedade.
Examination of Land Registration System in Iraq
This study examines the current status of land (real estate) registration in Iraq from a legal, institutional and technical points of view. From a legal perspective, the right to property in Iraq is guaranteed by the constitution. Real estate owners have the right to use, benefit and control of their properties. The property of real estate can only be intervened in by expropriation for the public good by paying the price. The registration of real estate in Iraq is carried out by reference to the Civil Code No. 40, the Real Estate Registration Law No. 43 and the Agricultural Reform Law No. 117. In addition to these laws, the Real Estate Registration Regulation No. 1 published in 2010 also includes regulations regarding registration procedures. The registration procedures of real estate are carried out by 18 real estate registration offices scattered throughout Iraq under the Ministry of Justice. Technically, the rights, restrictions, responsibilities and value information regarding real estate are kept in paper forms. Some of these forms are named as perception form, Form 23, Form-25, Form-46, From-51, From-52 and Form-59. Independent drawings showing the boundaries of real estates are in various forms, but they are not based on a common coordinate system. Therefore, it is not possible to accept these drawings as cadastral maps. Within the scope of this study, the forms and drawings used in the registration processes of real estates in Kirkuk province of Iraq were examined and UML forms were created for real estate objects in the parcel and building form. In this way, the basic objects in land administration, the attributes of these objects and their relationships with each other were determined and a basis was created for a modern land administration system that could be established in the future. The advances in the fields of land data collection (modern surveying instruments, GNSS, Lidar), management (spatial database management systems) and standardization (ISO 19152-Land Administration Domain Model-LADM) in the last twenty years offer important opportunities for establishing a modern land administration system for Iraq. However, further examination of land policies at different periods in Iraq's history and their impact on land property and use is needed.
Uma análise dos impactos das seis declarações do CADASTRO 2014 no desenvolvimento do sistema cadastral brasileiro
A realização do 13º Workshop Internacional da Federação Internacional de Agrimensores (FIG) no Brasil representa uma boa oportunidade para discutir o impacto das seis declarações do CADASTRO 2014 no desenvolvimento do sistema cadastral brasileiro. Passados quase trinta anos da sua publicação, é importante avaliar quais as principais ações no país para a construção e consolidação do sistema cadastral brasileiro, identificando quais estão alinhadas com as Declarações e Princípios do CADASTRO 2014, quais não foram devidamente contemplados e quais os desafios para implantar este padrão no País. Após a sua publicação em 1998, o Brasil passou a ter uma agenda de discussões acerca do tema, além de desenvolver diferentes iniciativas na tentativa de encontrar um caminho para o aperfeiçoamento do seu sistema cadastral. Entretanto, de forma insuficiente para construir um cadastro territorial cujos direitos, restrições e responsabilidades (RRR) estivessem definidos de forma inequívoca, em atendimento às exigências do Registro de Imóveis. Apesar de tais iniciativas aqui desenvolvidas, o Brasil, ainda não conseguiu resolver problemas relacionados à identificação de forma inequívoca de todos os direitos, restrições e responsabilidades (RRR) que recaem sobre o território, bem como convive com a fragmentação na sua estrutura organizacional, com a ausência de um ambiente regulador de abrangência nacional, com a falta de completude da sua base cadastral territorial, com as informações desagregadas e com a desatualização nos seus dados cadastrais. Assim, com os acordos firmados em prol do desenvolvimento sustentável e cumprimento dos objetivos da Agenda 2030, torna-se importante uma reflexão sobre cada uma das iniciativas desenvolvidas para tentar sanar as fragilidades ainda existentes e as adequações necessárias para o cumprimento do CADASTRO 2014 no Brasil.
Analysis of the Accuracy of Orthophotos Generated by UAS with RTK Sensors for Application in Urban Land Regularization (REURB)
Unplanned urban occupation has increasingly required public authorities to establish land-use planning policies. Article 182 of the 1988 Federal Constitution determines that urban policy must guarantee the social functions of the city and ensure the well-being of its inhabitants. Based on this principle, several laws have been enacted, including Law No. 10,931/2004 (extrajudicial area rectification), Law No. 13,105/2015 (extrajudicial adverse possession), and mainly Law No. 13,465/2017, which created the Urban Land Regularization (REURB). Originating from Provisional Measure No. 759/2016, this law expanded the demand for geospatial data and technologies, requiring municipalities to perform georeferenced topographic and cadastral surveys. According to Decree No. 9,310/2018, property boundary coordinates must present a positional error below 8 cm. Although remote sensing surveys using satellites, aircraft, or RPAs (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) are increasingly applied in cadastral development, current Brazilian standards such as ABNT NBR 13133:2021 and ABNT NBR 17047:2022 do not specifically regulate three-dimensional surveys for regularization purposes. Meanwhile, aerial photogrammetry with UAS has gained prominence due to advances in GNSS positioning (RTK, Network RTK, and PPK), enabling high accuracy even with limited ground control points. These technologies reduce costs and optimize operations, yet regulations still lack criteria for evaluating the accuracy of orthophotos generated by drones. The geometric reliability of orthophotos depends on parameters such as ground sample distance (GSD), flight altitude, and flight planning (overlaps and oblique images). These factors directly influence parcel boundary interpretation and the legal security of cadastral data. In this context, the present study proposes a comparative analysis of orthophotos generated with different flight configurations using the DJI M3M (Matrice 3 Enterprise) with RTK. Four products were created: (1) 1 cm GSD with longitudinal flight; (2) 2 cm GSD longitudinal; (3) 5 cm GSD longitudinal; and (4) 2 cm GSD cross-flight with oblique images (-60º). Checkpoints surveyed with a geodetic GNSS receiver will be used to assess positional accuracy. Parcel boundaries will be extracted from each orthophoto, and the coordinates of vertices compared to one another and to field measurements. The objective is to evaluate the geometric accuracy of photogrammetric products and identify the operational conditions under which they comply with legal requirements for REURB. This research contributes to defining feasible technical parameters for the reliable use of RPAs in urban land regularization processes in Brazil.
Análise de Requisitos para o Cadastro Territorial Multifinalitário: Relato de Experiência no Município de Brusque (SC)
Este artigo relata a experiência do município de Brusque (Santa Catarina, Brasil) na condução da etapa de análise de requisitos para a implementação do Cadastro Territorial Multifinalitário (CTM). O objetivo foi delinear o percurso metodológico desde as reuniões de planejamento até a realização da dinâmica intersetorial e da capacitação inicial na nova plataforma de geoprocessamento. Realizada em 2022, a iniciativa envolveu órgãos estratégicos da gestão territorial municipal, como planejamento urbano, controle ambiental e infraestrutura. A experiência contemplou o levantamento e a classificação das classes espaciais existentes, o nivelamento conceitual por meio de formação teórica sobre o CTM, a definição colaborativa de responsabilidades sobre os dados geográficos e o treinamento prático em um novo sistema SIG. Os resultados foram significativos. A partir desse processo, consolidaram-se mais de 25 cadastros temáticos integrados, com atualizações geométricas frequentes (mais de 4 mil por ano) e o lançamento do portal público portalgeo.brusque.sc.gov.br, com mais de 90 mil emissões gratuitas de consultas de viabilidade urbana. Também foi instituído um programa permanente de capacitação dos servidores sobre conceitos do CTM, estrutura de bancos de dados geoespaciais e uso de ferramentas SIG. O caso reforça o papel estratégico da análise de requisitos como base para a constituição de um CTM sólido e colaborativo, servindo como referência para outras prefeituras que buscam implementar um sistema de informações territoriais integrado, interoperável e sustentável.
Designing Future Land Administration Systems: A Practical Approach
Today’s land administration systems include numerous functions and services for managing land information. However, due to historical developments of different authorities, these functions and services are usually operated in a heterogeneous environment. One of the possible means to address this situation is the implementation of standards. Standardization is an established approach for organizations to coordinate and organize their resources and processes to ensure product and service quality and to raise work efficiency. One of the most dominant standards in land administration domain is the LADM. Initially released in 2012 as a generic conceptual model, LADM is revised and in its second edition covers all functions of land administration. However, the sixth part of the second edition, which is expected to include implementation aspects, is currently yet to be developed. Most of the previous research papers have dealt with design and capabilities of LADM through development of country profiles. This has resulted in two approaches or methodologies for development and adoption of LADM. In this paper, the authors provide third proposal which is mainly focused on tasks to implement LADM into existing LAS. The proposed methodology consists of three phases which include steps which could lead to potential implementation of LADM. The proposed methodology is described in context of Croatian land administration system on a conceptual level. Furthermore, the paper discusses potential challenges in modeling different sets of land administration data and importance of optimizing use cases through standardized data organization.
Spatialization of Territorial Parcels for Efficient Land Management
Georeferencing urban land parcels is essential for municipal management, supporting urban planning, land regularization, tax collection, integrated public services, and legal security in real estate transactions. It also promotes transparency and citizen participation while aligning administration with geographic information systems and federal regulations, including the City Statute and National System for Territorial Information Management (SINTER). Despite these benefits, georeferencing urban land parcel in Brazilian municipalities is limited. In 2019, only 21% of municipalities had a georeferenced cadastral database, while 59% collected only descriptive data, often without spatialization, and some lacked automation. This highlights the need for methods enabling large-scale spatialization of urban parcels and updated cadastral mapping. This work proposes a Fit-For-Purpose Land Administration methodology using National Address Database for Statistical Purposes (CNEFE) and municipal cadastre data combined with OpenStreetMap. Results show that georeferencing can achieve a maximum error limited to half the block dimensions when CNEFE points are adequately distributed, while discrepancies reveal potential cadastre integrity issues. Collected images and operation logs may support future deep learning applications, enhancing accuracy and automation.
Towards an Integrated Land Administration Curriculum: leveraging the power of AI to synthesize international and regional guidelines
We present a methodology for interrogating and synthesizing published international and regional guidelines relevant for the development of curricula on land administration and governance. Several guidelines have been published by different international and regional bodies. With so many informative resources available, curriculum developers may struggle to determine which ones to use most effectively. Leveraging the power of the latest frontier technology, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we use prompt engineering to derive summaries of five such guideline documents, present a synthesized set of guidelines, suggest graduate attributes, a three-year undergraduate curriculum (complete with course outlines and learning outcomes), possible degree names, practical teaching guidelines, entrance requirements, and career pathways. The models we interrogate are the free versions of ChatGPT, Copilot, NotebookLM, Claude.ai, and DeepSeek. The results are all similar but different. There are some cross-cutting themes and some unique contributions. Each model has its own strengths and peculiarities. We have shown that it is possible, with careful prompting, to use GenAI models to help curriculum developers make sense of multiple guidelines and propose a curriculum outline. Two of the guidelines we used have a strong African focus – curriculum developers from other contexts may supplement these with guidelines relevant to their context. We note that GenAI is error-prone and caution that human oversight is essential to review, modify, and approve its outputs. Our methodology should be seen as a first step.
A Demarcação de Terras Públicas e Privadas na Costa: A Definição de Limites e suas Implicações em Alguns Países.
A delimitação entre propriedade pública e privada em zonas costeiras, frequentemente estabelecida com base nos níveis de maré, é uma prática secular que busca garantir o acesso público à costa e definir os limites da propriedade privada. A adoção de diferentes níveis de maré como referência reflete a diversidade de abordagens legais e políticas globais. A linha de costa, embora fundamental como limite cadastral, é dinâmica, sujeita a variações diárias e alterações por processos naturais como erosão e acreção. A precisão nessa determinação é crucial para a gestão de riscos costeiros, o planejamento territorial e a resolução de litígios fundiários. Este artigo discute a diversidade de definições de níveis de maré e a extensão do domínio público costeiro em diferentes jurisdições, ressaltando a importância de compreender as especificidades de cada contexto para garantir uma gestão costeira eficaz e um equilíbrio justo entre os direitos de propriedade privada e o acesso público à costa. A metodologia deste artigo é qualitativa, de natureza exploratória e comparativa. Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica e documental de fontes acadêmicas, normativas e institucionais, incluindo legislações nacionais, artigos científicos, relatórios técnicos e publicações de organismos internacionais. A seleção dos países analisados considerou a diversidade de contextos geográficos, jurídicos e socioeconômicos. A análise comparativa identificou critérios, tipos de maré, métodos empregados e principais conflitos gerados pelas demarcações, avaliando as implicações jurídicas e sociais. Foram analisados os dados dos seguintes países: África do Sul onde a legislação de gestão integrada da costa enfrenta desafios relacionados à delimitação de propriedade pública e privada. Portugal apresenta um quadro complexo, com a Linha da Máxima Preia-Mar de Águas Vivas Equinociais sendo central na definição do Domínio Público Marítimo. Índia a delimitação da Linha de Maré Alta e Baixa é regulada pela Notificação CRZ, mas a existência de propriedades privadas na Zona de Regulação Costeira gera disputas legais. Estados Unidos a abordagem federal e estatal varia de acordo com cada jurisdição, levando a conflitos em relação ao acesso público e a delimitação de limites. Canadá o conceito de limite natural é relevante para a delimitação, mas a ambiguidade nas definições e a coexistência de jurisdições geram disputas. México a zona marítimo-terrestre é definida pela Constituição e enfrenta tensões entre concessões privadas e o direito ao acesso público. Espanha as regras estabelecidas pela Lei de Costas de 1988 resultam em frequentes litígios, especialmente em casos de propriedades em áreas de domínio público. Brasil a demarcação dos terrenos de marinha, evidencia conflitos de interpretação e insegurança jurídica devido à falta de clareza nos critérios de delimitação. Alemanha a gestão costeira se baseia em legislações federais e estaduais, com definições específicas que visam equilibrar proteção ambiental e direitos de propriedade, mas que também geram incertezas. A delimitação costeira é complexa e condicionada por fatores geográficos, históricos, legais e institucionais. A escolha do nível de maré impacta o domínio público e a propriedade privada. A imprecisão dos limites e as mudanças climáticas geram conflitos e insegurança jurídica. É essencial adotar métodos claros, científicos e atualizados, além de governança participativa. Uma gestão costeira eficaz deve equilibrar o interesse público com os direitos dos proprietários, visando sustentabilidade e resiliência.
Expanding the Sarawak LADM Country Profile with Valuation Information – Towards a Unified Land Administration Model
In striving to modernize Sarawak’s land administration system, this paper aims to bridge persistent gaps between legal, spatial, and valuation information by expanding the state’s LADM Country Profile to include comprehensive valuation data. Current fragmented systems lead to inefficiencies including outdated property assessments, especially for complex, mixed-use developments such as strata properties in rapidly urbanizing cities like Kuching. By leveraging the updated LADM Edition II standard alongside Building Information Modelling (BIM), this study proposes a unified data model which aligns legal rights, spatial units, and valuation attributes within a single digital framework. Through data collection, conceptual modeling, and stakeholder validation with Sarawak’s land administration authorities, the paper demonstrates how this integrated approach could enhance transparency and improve sustainable urban development.
Do cadastro fiscal ao cadastro multifinalitário: proposta de implementação de um sistema de informação territorial no município de Florianópolis/SC
This document presents a proposal for the reformulation of the cadastral system of the Municipality of Florianópolis-SC, following modernization guidelines recommended at the national and international levels, aiming at the establishment of a multipurpose cadastre. In this proposal, the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) is used as a reference. The proposed model is based on the parcel as the core element of cadastral management, considering the spatial unit, the related party, the type of relationship between them (Administrative), and its graphical representation (Surveying). In order to advance the provision of services derived from the multipurpose cadastre, the potentialities of implementing a Land Information System are presented, with a focus on interoperability through geoservices. The proposal suggests that the Territorial Information System should provide the municipality’s official territorial base, so that other institutions can use it to develop their activities, thereby avoiding the duplication of data production by different entities. Finally, the relationship between the Territorial Information System and a spatial data infrastructure is demonstrated, including services and documents that can be automated through cadastral data and other thematic cartographies, such as land use and occupation zoning, environmental mapping, and cultural heritage. This broadens the benefits to society. It is verified that the reformulation of the cadastral system has enabled broad access to municipal services, promoting transparency and efficiency in public service delivery. The automated services are directly related to the municipality’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Furthermore, transparency in the sharing of territorial data and information allows for continuous social oversight by citizens in relation to public administration. It also continuously reinforces actions to maintain and improve the municipality’s official territorial base, with daily routines of updating cartography and cadastral alphanumeric data. It can be concluded that the reform of the cadastral system has brought tangible benefits to society and public administration, making the multipurpose cadastre a central element in the functioning of the municipality and in the generation of services and activities in Florianópolis. This is evidenced by the quantitative figures on service issuance, the availability of access, and the awards the municipality has received related to competitiveness, social development, and economic progress.
Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration: Status, Success, and Scaling for Sustainable Development
This paper presents an overview of the Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFPLA) approach, examining its current status, implementation successes, and strategies for scaling to address global land tenure challenges. FFPLA prioritizes flexibility, inclusivity, and speed in securing land rights, particularly for marginalized communities, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through analysis of case studies from Rwanda, Mozambique, and Benin, the paper highlights key lessons, including the importance of political will, participatory methodologies, technology integration, and capacity building. It also addresses challenges such as professional resistance, legal framework adaptations, and resource constraints. The paper proposes strategies for mainstreaming FFPLA, emphasizing public-private partnerships, digital transformation, and adaptation of legal frameworks. Emerging trends like AI, crowdsourcing, and spatial data infrastructure are explored for their potential to enhance FFPLA scalability. Ultimately, the work advocates for a renewed commitment to land tenure security, urging policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to advance FFPLA for equitable and sustainable development. This work contributes to the discussion on integrated land administration for climate resilience by promoting efficient, inclusive, and adaptable land management practices essential for sustainable development.
Evaluation of Altimetric Accuracy in the Integration of GNSS Data withGlobal and Regional Digital Terrain Models in the Context of RuralProperty Georeferencing
Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) are important in representing Earth’s surface relief. Recent updates of Brazil’s Technical Standard for Georeferencing of Rural Properties have made altimetric information a mandatory requirement for cadastral boundary delineation. Leveraging this regulatory advancement, the present study examines how the integration of GNSS survey data with both global elevation models and orbital radar sensors can enhance vertical accuracy and spatial coherence of DTMs in two Paraná municipalities (Reserva do Iguaçu and Guarapuava). This study aimed to evaluate the altimetric accuracy of integrating GNSS data with the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and models derived from Sentinel-1 and ALOS PALSAR InSAR imagery. GNSS+SRTM integrated models were produced in QGIS, while Sentinel-1 and ALOS PALSAR were conducted in ESA’s SNAP environment. Model accuracy was quantified through Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Standard Deviation (SD), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), with independent GNSS points reserved as checkpoints. Spatial diagnostics comprised error density curves, boxplots, and Moran’s Index to assess residual clustering. Results revealed that GNSS+SRTM_IDW exhibited the poorest altimetric accuracy (RMSE up to 13.84 m; SD up to 6.88 m), reflecting high dispersion and systematic bias. In contrast, GNSS+SRTM_TIN consistently achieved the lowest errors (RMSE 1.99–2.88 m; MAE 1.26–1.91 m) and the most compact, symmetric error distributions. Among radarbased models, ALOS PALSAR outperformed Sentinel-1, with RMSE between 2.14–3.14 m versus 3.36–4.93 m, and demonstrated stronger spatial coherence. These findings underscore that TIN-based integration of GNSS and SRTM data - as well as ALOS PALSAR InSAR - offer the highest combination of accuracy and spatial reliability for altimetric applications. The study highlights the necessity of coupling global error metrics with spatial autocorrelation analyses to fully characterize DTM quality.
Multipurpose Territorial Cadastre Governance: Lessons from Cotia’s Experience in Light of LADM Principles in the Brazilian Context
The modernization of land administration systems in developing countries, such as Brazil, faces the dual challenge of overcoming the complexity of legacy systems and resource constraints. This paper analyzes the experience of modernizing the Multipurpose Technical Cadastre (CTM) in the municipality of Cotia, São Paulo, as a case study on the pragmatic application of international principles in a context of high socio-spatial complexity. The methodology involved integrating historical data with high-resolution geospatial inputs, such as orthophotos (10 cm GSD) and mobile mapping imagery, on a web-based GIS platform. The main result was the creation of a unified database for approximately 115,000 properties, with functional interoperability with the municipal tax system. An analysis of the solution reveals a strong conceptual convergence with the Spatial, Administrative, and Source packages of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM - ISO 19152), even without a formal adoption of the standard. It is concluded that a fit-for-purpose approach is a viable path for cadastral modernization, and that the greatest value of standards like the LADM may lie in their function as a "conceptual map" that guides incremental, problem-driven implementations. This experience offers valuable lessons for land governance and the promotion of social inclusion in Brazil.
Sustainable Management of Aquatic Spaces Under Federal Domain: a Modeling Proposal Based on LADM
The management of public lands and waters plays a strategic role in promoting sustainable development and the preservation of natural resources. In Brazil, this challenge is manifested in a complex manner within the administration of federal assets, particularly those considered public goods for common use, such as federal public waters. Responsibility for this management lies with the Secretariat for Federal Assets (Secretaria do Patrimônio da União – SPU), an agency under the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, which is tasked with regulating the use and ensuring the patrimonial control of Union assets, including water bodies under federal domain. Among the instruments available to operationalize this management, the granting of physical spaces in public waters stands out. This mechanism allows the Union, through technical, legal, and environmental criteria, to authorize the use of specific water areas by public or private entities. The purposes of these grants are varied, ranging from the installation of floating structures, such as marinas and piers, to the implementation of economic, tourism, environmental, or scientific research activities. The granting process involves complex stages, including multidisciplinary analyses, issuance of technical opinions, and formal contractual arrangements, demanding a robust and interoperable administrative structure. However, the increasing demand for regulated use of aquatic spaces highlights the limitations of traditional management models, particularly regarding system integration, data standardization, and procedural efficiency. The absence of a unified approach to represent the legal and spatial relationships governing such grants undermines SPU’s capacity for planning, oversight, and interinstitutional coordination. In this context, the adoption of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) is proposed as a conceptual reference for modeling data and processes related to the granting of aquatic spaces under federal domain. The LADM, standardized by ISO 19152, was originally designed to standardize the representation of information in land administration systems by structuring the relationships among stakeholders (parties), rights, restrictions and responsibilities (RRRs), spatial units, and legal sources. Its primary objective is to promote interoperability among different systems and ensure semantic consistency in territorial managementhere.
SPU (Secretariat for Federal Assets – Brazil)
Catastro en el Perú: Gobernanza, Interoperabilidad y la Ruta de Adopción del LADM
Peru’s cadastre remains fragmented, limiting legal security, property formalization, and municipal fiscal capacity. In 2024, according to the National Registry of Municipalities, only 32% of urban districts had a cadastre, without a common data model to ensure interoperability. This gap results in institutional inefficiencies, high costs for citizens, and territorial policies based on partial information. In this context, the article proposes a roadmap for the adoption of LADM-Peru (ISO 19152), articulating governance, financing, and data architecture. The methodology combines a review of regulations and cadastral databases, interviews with public officials, and an international benchmarking exercise, following interoperability and land governance approaches recognized by the OECD, the World Bank, and UN-GGIM. The expected results include: (i) a comprehensive diagnosis of cadastral governance, (ii) a governance and mixed-financing model, and (iii) a 2026–2030 roadmap with clear milestones and defined responsibilities. The contribution of the study is oriented both to academia and to public policy, offering inputs for the MEF, SUNARP, COFOPRI, the SNCP, and local governments, in line with international commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rethinking UX in 3D Cadastral Systems for Inclusive Land Governance
This article examines how User Experience (UX) is conceptualized and evaluated in the context of 3D cadastral systems, and advocates for a more holistic and inclusive approach to their design. Although 3D cadastres are often promoted as more accessible and engaging for non-expert users, little attention has been paid to how users - whatever their level of expertise - actually experience and interact with these systems. Our literature review reveals that UX is frequently reduced to usability, overlooking non-instrumental dimensions such as aesthetics, symbolism, and user motivations, factors that are essential to inclusive land governance. Moreover, evaluations of 3D cadastral prototypes rarely involve non-expert participants, and interdisciplinary collaborations remain sparse. To bridge these gaps, we propose reframing UX in 3D cadastres around three pillars: the integration of broader experience dimensions, the inclusion of diverse user groups through participatory methods, and the promotion of interdisciplinary design practices. We argue that institutions like the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) could play a pivotal role in this transformation by promoting cross-disciplinary dialogue and supporting structured citizen engagement in cadastral research and development. Reimagining UX in this way can not only improve system performance and adoption but also enhance the social legitimacy and accessibility of future cadastral infrastructures.
Integration of Low-Cost Sensor Technologies and Open Geospatial Data for Comprehensive 3D Cadastral Modeling of Terrain
This manuscript presents a methodology for 3D cadastral modeling by integrating low-cost sensor technologies, such as drone-based photogrammetry, with authoritative geospatial datasets. The approach is designed to overcome the limits of conventional 3D data acquisition, which can be highly resource-consuming. The workflow proposed in this research encompasses multisource data integration, such as data cleaning, georeferencing, and the alignment of 3D geometries with legal parcel boundaries. The resulting models are suitable for visualization and cadastral verification, offering practical tools to enhance land administration practices. It may also be used as the basis of 3D building representation or volumetric cadastre. To demonstrate its applicability, our proposed methodology is applied to a property located on the bank of a river in rural Québec, away from major urban centers.
Climate resilient spatial plans: Revised LADM climate adaptation profile
In 2022, the Netherlands introduced ‘water and soil’ guidance as key principle for Dutch spatial planning. This approach emphasizes water and soil considerations into planning processes, especially when addressing pressing climate challenges in the country, such as flooding, rising sea levels, and soil subsidence. However, its implementation has encountered significant obstacles, particularly in the areas of data accessibility, standardization, and interoperability. Despise their availability, geological and hydrological information is often specialized, fragmented into multiple sources, and overall still unused in spatial planning. To address these challenges, the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Part 5 climate adaptation profile was introduced in 2024 and incorporated as Annex C in the ISO 19152-5 standard. This specialization profile provides a structured framework to integrate subsurface and climate-related data into land administration systems, enabling planners to make informed decisions and share plan information to support climate adaptation. The initial profile received valuable feedback from spatial planners, who highlighted the need for better integration with external data sources, improved data traceability, and design flexibility. This paper presents a revised version of the LADM climate adaptation profile, incorporating key modifications to address the feedback and enhance its functionality. One significant update is the inclusion of external classes, facilitating integration with external data sources, such as geological and hydrological models, and climate projections. Additionally, the revised profile includes the LA_Source class to meet spatial planners’ requests for data traceability. To demonstrate the revised LADM profile, real Dutch plan information is used. For instance, one case study demonstrates how the LADM profile facilitates subsurface assessment during the masterplan phase, by integrating groundwater data and geological models with land use plans. The examples highlight the profile’s ability to bridge theoretical frameworks with practical implementation, supporting the Netherlands’ ‘water and soil’ principle. In short, the revised LADM Part 5 climate adaptation profile strengthens Dutch efforts to achieve climate resilience by improving data integration, transparency, and decision-making. Its flexible and interoperable framework also holds promise for global adoption. As nations worldwide seek to balance spatial development with climate adaptation, the profile’s standardized approach can inform international best practices.
Accuracy Evaluation of Low-Cost and Professional UAS Orthomosaics for 2D/3D Urban Cadastre Mapping
The increasing demand for precise and timely geospatial information, particularly for the evolving three-dimensional urban cadastre, has positioned Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as essential data acquisition tools. This study compares the positional accuracy of orthomosaics generated by a low-cost UAS (DJI Mini 3) and a professional platform (DJI Matrice 350 RTK + P1) for urban cadastre applications. Two photogrammetric workflows were tested: indirect georeferencing with ground control points for the Mini 3 and direct georeferencing with Network RTK for the Matrice. The 5-ha study area was flown at 70 m altitude, and accuracy was evaluated using the Brazilian Cartographic Accuracy Standard (PEC) at 1:1000 scale. The Matrice achieved a finer ground sampling distance (0.84 cm) and lower positional RMS (4.09 cm) but required longer processing time (4 h 47 m). The Mini 3 produced an RMS of 11.02 cm with shorter processing time (32 min). Despite these differences, both orthomosaics met PEC Class A requirements, demonstrating that low-cost UAS with indirect georeferencing can provide a cost-effective alternative for accurate 2D cadastral mapping.
From Standards to Solutions: Kadaster International’s Role in Implementing LADM for Sustainable Land Administration in Latin America
Kadaster International, the international department of the Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency, plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable land governance worldwide. Kadaster International supports governments and communities in building inclusive, interoperable, and fit-for-purpose land administration systems. In Latin America, the organization has been instrumental in supporting land tenure formalization, capacity building, and the deployment of innovative geospatial technologies. A cornerstone of its approach is the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM – ISO 19152), a global ISO-certified standard that enables the integration of legal, spatial, and administrative land data across institutions. Complementing this is the Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFP-LA) methodology, which emphasizes affordability, flexibility, and participatory mapping to accelerate land tenure formalization. This paper presents key use cases from Colombia and Brazil, where LADM and FFP-LA are applied to address complex land governance challenges. In Colombia, the adoption of LADM—locally adapted as LADM_COL—is central to the country’s post-conflict land policy following the 2016 Peace Accords. Led by the Colombian Institute Agustín Codazzi (IGAC), LADM_COL aims to create an interoperable, multipurpose cadastre covering 70% of the national territory by 2026. Kadaster International supports this effort through projects such as Land in Peace, LAND-at-Scale, and Booster, which combine LADM with FFP-LA principles to simplify data collection, integrate local knowledge, and promote community participation. These initiatives address key challenges such as institutional fragmentation, the recognition of informal rights, and the modernization of cadastral infrastructure. In Brazil, Kadaster International and ITC facilitated a high-level training with three federal ministries—Economics (Receita Federal), Agricultural Development (MDA/INCRA), and Data Processing (SERPRO)—to explore how LADM can unify Brazil’s fragmented cadastral systems. The workshop resulted in a jointly developed roadmap for an integrated cadastre, demonstrating how LADM serves as a common language between land administration and IT professionals. This collaboration continues with plans to engage additional ministries and stakeholders. Further south, in Mato Grosso, Kadaster supported smallholder land regularization through a pilot project in São Joaquim. In partnership with INCRA, local registries, and academic institutions (UNICAMP and Wageningen University), the project applies LADM and FFP-LA tools to streamline land titling processes. A trial in Tangará da Serra uses GPS-based mapping and administrative adverse possession to address overlapping claims and reduce procedural barriers. In the Amazon’s Tapajós region, Kadaster works with indigenous communities to protect ancestral lands from illegal encroachment and deforestation. Using FFP-LA and participatory mapping, communities and key stakeholders at federal and state level will be trained to document landholders and generate spatial data that authorities can use to enforce indigenous land rights. This initiative exemplifies how inclusive land administration can empower vulnerable groups and support environmental stewardship. Together, these examples illustrate how LADM and Fit-for-Purpose approaches can be adapted to diverse legal and institutional contexts, contributing to tenure security, institutional coordination, and sustainable development. By strengthening land information systems and promoting inclusive governance, Kadaster International’s work supports broader societal goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action, and peacebuilding.
Applying LADM for Brazilian Rural Cadastre – a prototype and partial results
Brazil has vast natural resources and is a global leader in farming, yet its land administration system still has significant room for development. Since 2013, the georeferenced rural cadastre (SIGEF), which integrates with the Land Registry, has made significant progress. However, this system focuses primarily on formal property rights, failing to capture Brazil’s complex agrarian landscape, which is marked by diverse possessory rights, high levels of informality, and rapid changes in land use and tenure. This article presents a project underway to enhance this existing platform by implementing the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) – ISO 19152:2012. The LADM-based model is designed to represent a wide variety of tenure situations, both formal and informal, including individual properties and traditional collective territories. Furthermore, the model addresses an ambiguity in Brazilian law between the "property unit" (from the Land Registry) and the agrarian concept of the "Rural Immovable" (based on possession and land use). By using LADM’s three fundamental elements — parties (Party), rights (RRR), and parcels (Spatial Unit) — the project tries to configure rural immovables by linking adjacent parcels of the same party, considering both formal and informal rights that result in direct possession. Pilot studies were conducted in four distinct municipalities. Data were collected from three main sources: SIGEF (Georeferenced Cadastre System), CAR (Rural Environmental Cadastre) and SNCR (National Rural Cadastre System). The final goal is to develop an accessible and functional prototype that allows users to resolve ambiguities, clearly identifying formal components of an immovable alongside informal parcels and traditional occupations. This solution aims to pave the way for the implementation of a comprehensive cadastre for Brazil, which will support conflict resolution, sustainable land use, economic development, and social equity with environmental control.
Integrated Surveying of the Igreja da Penha in Rio de Janeiro: Planimetric and Altimetric Documentation for Heritage and Cadastral Purposes
This study presents an integrated approach to 3D documentation of the Basilica of Our Lady of Penha, integrating multiple geotechnologies to support heritage conservation and analysis. GNSS surveys, aerial photogrammetry using a UAV, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and conventional topographic methods were combined to generate sparse and dense point clouds, a textured 3D model, and a georeferenced orthomosaic. Ground control points (GCPs) ensured high spatial accuracy, while confidence filtering improved data reliability. The results enabled precise geometric representation, architectural analysis, detection of potential deformations, and the creation of a multidimensional dataset suitable for restoration planning, long-term monitoring, and scientific studies. The methodology demonstrates the effectiveness of combining complementary data acquisition techniques for sustainable cultural heritage management.
Heloísa Macieira dos Santos de Oliveira Coelho
3D Surface Models for Urban Planning and Land Value Capture: A Case Study of Rio de Janeiro’s Cadastral System
This study examines Rio de Janeiro’s pioneering use of repeat airborne LiDAR surveys (2019 and 2024) to address the critical challenge of maintaining an up-to-date physical cadastre a foundational element of the Multipurpose Land Cadastre (MLC). By generating differential elevation models, the research quantifies vertical growth across the city, categorizing changes with a 3-meter threshold to reliably identify new construction floors, particularly informal additions. The analysis demonstrates that LiDAR technology is vital not only for topographic mapping but for enabling cross-checks of construction permits, identifying tax evasion, and informing land-use policies. The findings underscore that the long-term effectiveness of such geospatial tools hinges on sustained institutional commitment to regular data updates, interoperability, and systemic coordination across government agencies. Ultimately, the integration of LiDAR with the MLC represents a transformative step toward smarter, more equitable urban governance, where accurate spatial data can support fairer taxation and fund inclusive development.
Cost-Effective 3D Land Administration for Climate Adaptation in Developing Regions
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.
Desenvolvimento de um modelo integrado para o gerenciamento de risco de desastres baseado no LADM (ISO 19152) para Recife-PE, Brasil
Os autores utilizam o LA-DRM (Disaster Risk Management), uma extensão do LADM (Land Administration Domain Model) – ISO 19152, como base para o desenvolvimento de um modelo aplicado ao município de Recife-PE-Brasil. A modelagem espacial proposta permite associar unidades territoriais com diferentes condições de ocupação (formal, informal ou em processo de regularização) a atributos de risco, promovendo análises integradas entre vulnerabilidade socioambiental e posse da terra. No contexto de Recife, onde ocupações informais, fragilidade socioambiental e exposição a riscos climáticos se sobrepõem, espera-se que um sistema semelhante represente um avanço metodológico significativo. A pesquisa utilizou as classes básicas de uma proposta de LADM para cadastros brasileiros, que caracterizava a diversidade de relações entre pessoas e terra no Brasil. Para o módulo DRM, os atributos específicos para o caso de gestão de riscos inerentes ao município de Recife foram identificados e considerados na modelagem.
Modelo de Domínio de Administração de Terras (LADM)