Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemThe cadastral survey requirements of developing countries in the Pacific region: with particular reference to Fiji(Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), 1982)The cadastral survey systems introduced into many developing Pacific countries during colonial eras often do not meet the social and economic demands placed on them at the present time. Such systems can seriously limit the availability and transfer of land hence restricting the development and economic advancement of a country .This paper considers the subject generally although particular reference is made to the system presently operating in Fiji.
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ItemCadastral survey techniques in developing countries: with particular reference to Thailand( 1983-09)The benefits of an efficient cadastral, survey and land registration system to developing countries are described. The legal, and particularly the technical procedures in creating a cadastre are discussed. The use of ground and photogrammetric survey techniques are highlighted. The reasons for restricting, the introduction of efficient cadastral survey systems are considered. Thailand is used as an example of a country which has, shown much flexibility in improving its cadastral system to better meet the needs of its developing economy. In this regard, the institutional and legal arrangements in the Thai cadastral system are described, as is the development of the cadastral survey system. As an indication of continuing flexibility, the future direction of 1he Thai cadastral, system is discussed.
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ItemCoordination of cadastral surveys in New South Wales( 1984-12)A review is made of all major attempts and recommendations to introduce coordination of cadastral surveys into New South Wales. The review covers the period from the first directives by the Government for a general survey in the 1820s, to the proposals to introduce coordination based on the Integrated Survey Grid in the 1970s. An attempt is made to draw some conclusions from the historical review which will assist in the introduction of some form of coordination of cadastral surveys in the future.
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ItemThe development of the cadastral survey system in New South Wales( 1984-03)This article reviews the development of the cadastral survey system in N.S.W. Particular emphasis is given to an understanding of why the system developed based on isolated survey principles. In reviewing the development, three critical periods have been considered: early survey administration, ‘1788- 1831; the formative years, 183l-1864; and refinement, 1864-present’.
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ItemLessons from the Swedish land data bank system( 1987-12)In 1985 the Victorian Government contracted consultants from the Swedish Central Board for Real Estate Data to assist in a study into the development of the Victorian land information system (LIS) with emphasis on the development and role of an automated land titles system within the LIS. This paper suggests it is beneficial for Victoria to have a broad understanding of the Swedish system in order to put any recommendations in perspective. As a consequence the paper reviews the Swedish cadastral and land information system, and highlights lessons and issues derived from the Swedish system which may benefit the development of land information systems in Victoria as well as other jurisdictions in Australia.
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ItemConsiderations is assessing the potential success of a cadastral or land information management project in developing countries: a case study of the Thailand Land Titling Project( 1990)The Thailand Land Titling Project is undoubtedly a successful project combining technical, institutional, management, legal, training and educational components. It is a joint project by the Royal Thai Government, the World Bank and the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau. It is primarily concerned with the issuing of land titles to all freehold parcels in the Kingdom of Thailand, in addition to undertaking land administration reform, establishing a national valuation system, carrying out urban cadastral mapping for all urban areas in the country and developing a national land information strategy. The paper briefly overviews the project, outlines some of the lessons from the project and the significant socio-economic benefits of the project. However the paper concentrates on attempting to evaluate the reasons for the success of the project. In particular it argues that the institutional, economic, social, legal and political environment at the time of project preparation and implementation was conducive to its success. Such an evaluation is necessary to place the lessons, achievements and benefits of the Land Titling Project in perspective for others who may wish to translate these experiences to their own countries or jurisdictions. By drawing on the experiences of the Land Titling Project and other projects with which the author has been involved, an attempt is made to generalize the considerations and necessary environment for success of similar projects.
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ItemLand information management at the World Bank( 1991-03)The surveying, mapping and land information management industry in both the government and private sectors in Australia has increasingly promoted the export of its expertise to developing countries during the 1980s, particularly in the land administration area. This activity has brought the industry in closer contact with organizations such as the World Bank with a view to increasing Australia’s share of the international consulting market. As a consequence of these developments and the extensive expertise in land management within the World Bank, in both the operational and research areas, the author spent six months undertaking research in land information management in developing countries in the World Bank during the latter half of 1989. This paper summarizes his impressions and experiences from this period but in particular highlights the role and importance of surveying, mapping and land information management as perceived by the World Bank. A major conclusion of the paper is that the surveying profession together with its institutions, systems and technologies is ‘alive and well’ and has a very sound and important future in the developing world.
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ItemNo easy road: accountability in modern education for professional surveyors( 1991)In any economy where public expenditure on higher education accounts for a sizeable proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), equity in spending and equality of access have long been considered to be crucial issues in the political arena. They still are. However, we now find that it is concerns about the efficiency of higher education provision, and especially its quality, form, content and relevance, which are now expressed most stridently. In turn, this has led to demands for more coherent planning and management control systems in higher education generally within which the accountability of the institution, the professional school and the individual academic is a sine qua non. Then, in the space of a decade or so, the well-defended vocational walls which have surrounded land information professionals, especially land surveyors, have begun to be breached in many parts of the world. Primarily, this process is due to the advent of new information and positioning systems, including Land Information Systems (LIS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) over which surveyors have no particular lien. This has been coupled with other powerful external forces such as professional deregulation. Quite simply, there is a new game, new turf and new players. Things are not what they used to be - nor will they ever return to what they were. Unfortunately, many wish that they would and a laager mentality is still alive and well in the worlds of surveying academe and professional surveying practice alike. Yet, some individuals and institutions have, with not a little delight, welcomed the opportunities which change invariably brings and, moreover, achieved success. This success is due, in no small way, to the vigorous adoption of a variety of innovative measures of modern academic management including the process of proper accountability and the introduction of performance indicators. There is also the matter of a growing and increasingly vociferous consumer lobby. In a number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, tertiary students have had to sustain substantial increases in direct charges for their courses. In practice, the alternative cost-recovery mechanisms range across the charging spectrum and include: full-cost fees, supplementary top-up fees for certain courses, repayable loans and inflation-indexed graduate taxes. Yet, whatever the charging mechanism, it would be surprising if the natural querulousness of students regarding their education anyway were not intensified by the forceful expression of dissatisfaction if they consider the education they receive as representing poor value for money. It would also be surprising if there is not increased pressure from both public-sector and private-sector employers of surveying graduates for greater accountability to be demonstrated by those involved in professional surveying education. Many of these employers have been put through an "economic wringer" by governments set on obtaining efficiency and effectiveness in the national economy. Moreover, to survive in the medium term and long term, they know that they need that essential input which comes from fresh, active, and capable young minds able to respond to the new challenges, not those of twenty years ago. To put it bluntly, academic accountability is not just a fashionable word. Increasingly, it is a powerful and necessary, albeit emotive, issue for governments, tertiary-education institutions, individual academics, tax-payers and students alike. The reality of the academic environment today is that the introduction of accepted management practices - strategic plans, performance appraisal and business plans to name but three - are all becoming part of the daily routine. However, a major problem which accompanies the introduction of increased accountability for the tertiary-education sector in Australia lies with the lack of proper provision, within the new performance appraisal process, for financial rewards for individual high-achieving academics. This contrasts markedly with the private sector and, indeed, with some parts of government where performance payments are the norm. Thus, in a sense, the tertiary-education sector has been both squeezed by government and also put through the "economic wringer" as well. Moreover, this has happened at a time in Australia when academic salaries have fallen, in relative terms, well behind teachers and other related professionals. The net, and worrying, result is that many of the best people are leaving universities, while at the same time it is very difficult to attract suitable professionals into the tertiary-education sector. The purpose of this paper is four-fold. First, we outline what is meant by accountability. Then, we will explore the manner in which accountability fits into the rapidly-changing world of higher-education management. The third objective is to examine the various inter-mingled relationships and responsibilities of the major role-players in professional surveying education. Finally, we consider the need for and introduction of suitable performance indicators to provide an essential underpinning to the academic accountability process. We offer no apology for using the management practices at the University of Melbourne as an example throughout the paper. Quite simply, it is sensible to comment on that which one knows well. Moreover, in dealing with some issues of potential contention and sensitivity, it seemed more prudent to remain reasonably "close to home". Naturally, it is recognised that similar processes would be found in other institutions to varying degrees.
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ItemThe need for improved forms of conceptual models in Geographical Information System development( 1991)While numerous books have been published in the past two decades on the subject of information system development methodologies, it is now recognized that these techniques need modification to suit the peculiar nature of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). However, regardless of how system development life-cycles might be varied to suit GIS, the use of models remains a common feature of the development of any information system. It is argued that high-level conceptual models, as used in the initial system evaluation phase, are perhaps the most important type of model in terms of providing an overall picture of what the system is designed to achieve -- yet they remain the least understood. The aim of this paper is to provide a greater understanding of their role and purpose and to highlight their importance in effective GIS development and implementation. Suggestions are also made for improving the form and content of conceptual models so that their meaning becomes clearer
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ItemThe Bangkok Land Information System Project: designing an integrated land information system for a large city in the developing world( 1992)International aid and lending organisations worldwide are increasingly recognising the importance of improving the operation and management of cities in developing countries. A key activity to improve these cities is land information management, however the methods adopted in the developed countries are not necessarily applicable to those which are less developed. This paper reviews an important and innovative approach to developing a land information system for the City of Bangkok. The Bangkok Land Information System (BLIS) Project is a cooperative effort between five key authorities in the City; this cooperation in itself is almost unique. The paper reviews the operation of and strategy behind the design of the two year BLIS project and highlights some of the early lessons.