Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemImplementing LIS/GIS from a customary land tenure perspective: the Fiji experience( 1995)This paper briefly reviews Fiji's national land information system (LIS) strategy and the major land and geographic information systems (LIS/GIS) initiatives that have been under way in the major government organisations in Fiji up to April 1994. It also describes and attempts to examine the impact that these initiatives have had on the people who continue to live under Fiji's customary land tenure systems.
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ItemImplications of incorporating Customary Land Tenure Data into a Land Information System( 1995)Land Information Systems (LIS) have been primarily developed to serve the needs of countries that use a 'western' style land market where individual land rights are the norm. However many countries that have a large proportion of lands held under customary land tenures where communally held land rights are common, are also wishing to establish LIS. For these countries LIS is a tool to facilitate the management and administration of their land resources, preserve their customs and traditions and promote the development of a market economy. In order to be effective, the LIS introduced into these countries will need to incorporate customary land tenure data. This paper considers the implications of incorporating such customary land tenure data into a LIS.Firstly the attributes of western land tenures that are currently used in Land Information Systems are reviewed; then drawing examples from Fiji, the paper examines some of the attributes of customary tenure that could be entered into a LIS. This is followed by a discussion of some of the major issues associated with including customary tenure data into a LIS.
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ItemTraditional land tenure issues for LIS in Fiji( 1995)With the help of the New Zealand Government, a national LIS is currently being implemented in Fiji, under the auspices of the Department of Lands. Like many other Pacific Island countries, Fiji has a complex land tenure system. This is the first of two papers that aims at examining the implications of LIS for traditional land tenures. Since LIS is a product of the industrialised world, attributes of the conventional `western' land tenures can easily be incorporated into any LIS. However, attributes of traditional land tenures are yet to be identified and incorporated into an LIS. Unless traditional land tenure issues are considered and taken into account when implementing an LIS, the LIS will not be fully accepted and utilised by the traditional peoples, and will therefore not be truly successful. The emphasis in these papers therefore will be on the traditional aspects of land tenure. This paper reviews Fiji's dual land tenure systems, with particular emphasis on it's traditional land tenure system, and raises some issues and problems of it for an LIS.
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ItemAppropriate cadastral systems( 1996)Cadastral systems are not ends in themselves and support effective land markets, increased agricultural productivity, sustainable economic development, environmental management, political stability and social justice, although it is absolutely essential that each cadastral system is designed appropriately to serve the needs of the individual country.
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ItemUnderstanding cadastral maps( 1996)Cadastral maps are generally regarded as an essential part of the land management infrastructure in most countries yet there is often misunderstanding about their characteristics and role. Due to the vast range of different cadastral systems and resulting cadastral maps, it is very difficult to describe a “typical” cadastral map. It is the authors’ view that it is also very difficult, if not impossible, to understand the characteristics and functions of a cadastral map without understanding the respective cadastral system. As a result this paper endeavours to examine the characteristics and functions of cadastral maps by examining the cadastral mapping systems in Denmark and Australia. The Danish system is a typical “old world” European system which had its history in land taxation. The Australian systems could be considered “new world” systems which have been more heavily influenced by land market considerations. Even though the Australian and Danish cadastral systems are very similar, understanding the characteristics and functions of cadastral maps in the two systems remains difficult. This study discusses the different characteristics of cadastral maps which have been designed for different users or functions. In particular the paper concentrates on the issues concerned with developing digital multi-purpose cadastral maps. The major conclusions from the paper are that the creation and maintenance of multi-purpose digital cadastral maps is a difficult and complex task. This complexity arises to a large degree because the characteristics of a cadastral map designed to serve traditional land markets or land registration purposes are quite different from the characteristics of a modern multi-purpose cadastral map.
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ItemThe justification of cadastral systems in developing countries( 1997)This paper provides a justification for cadastral systems in developing countries. The paper commences with a brief overview of cadastral systems and argues that the debate about such systems should move from whether cadastral systems are important or appropriate for developing countries, to what constitutes an appropriate cadastre for such countries. The paper reviews the reasons for the dramatic increase in interest in cadastral systems over the last decade and highlights some of the lessons and current challenges facing policy makers in the design of appropriate cadastral systems. The role of cadastral systems in both urban and rural situations is considered. In rural areas the paper argues that a secure title is important: in promoting increased investment in agriculture; for more effective husbandry of the land; for improved sustainable development; to support an increase in GNP through an increase in agricultural productivity; and providing significant social and political benefits leading to a more stable society, especially where land is scarce. In densely populated rural areas or areas of high value a cadastral system also permits an effective land market to operate and allows an equitable land taxation system to operate. In urban areas it argues that a cadastral system is essential to support an active land market by permitting land to be bought, sold, mortgaged and leased efficiently, effectively, quickly and at low cost. In addition it argues that a parcel based land information system (not necessarily computerised), based on the cadastre, is essential for the efficient management of cities. Cadastral systems permit land taxes to be raised thereby supporting a wide range of urban services, and allowing the efficient management and delivery of local government services. In promoting the importance of cadastral systems in developing countries, the paper draws heavily on the experiences of the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and several recognised authorities. The paper also argues that an effective cadastral system is important for the support of sustainable economic development and environmental management within the context of Agenda 21 as agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Brazil in 1992. The paper then reviews the trend for cadastral and land information systems to be increasingly justified on rigorous economic grounds, both in the developed and developing worlds. Finally, the paper emphasises that cadastral systems must be appropriate to the circumstances and needs of the individual country, otherwise the cadastral system can do more harm than good!
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ItemUsing the case study methodology to review cadastral reform in Papua New Guinea( 1997)Cadastral reform is generally considered to be complex, costly, high risk, time consuming and often difficult to introduce. This paper reviews the use of a case study methodology to assess its effectiveness in understanding such reforms. Current cadastral reform in Papua New Guinea is used in this paper as an example to evaluate the methodology. Case studies in two different provinces are described to highlight PNG's social, political, economic and cultural background and to assess the performance of recent cadastral reform initiatives, particularly with regard to the registration of customary land.
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ItemThe future of the surveying profession: an Australian perspective( 1997)The surveying profession is currently facing the biggest challenge in its modern history. Rapid technological change, micro-economic reform, de-regulation of the professions, and the Internet are placing pressures on traditional professional operations and structures never previously experienced. Yet issues of environmental degradation, sustainable development, the management of our cities and economic rationalism are presenting opportunities and challenges to our profession never thought possible. Issues central to our profession such as cadastral reform and spatial data infrastructures are grabbing the attention of policy makers as they realise their importance in economic development, environmental management and social stability. Can the surveying profession survive these changes and what does the future hold? This paper endeavours to seek answers to these questions by looking at the past, endeavouring to understand the present and trying to look into the future. The paper focuses on the Australian surveying profession while recognising that many of the issues discussed are relevant to other countries.
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ItemAdverse possession of Torrens land: Parliamentary inquiry strays out of bounds( 1998-12)Current Australasian (including Victorian and NSW) schemes regarding adverse possession of land are reviewed in light of a Victorian Parliamentary committee Fences Act inquiry report, due shortly, which may recommend adoption of NSW practice with respect to adverse possession.
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ItemDevelopment of spatial data infrastructures: lessons learnt from the Australian digital cadastral databases( 1998)Over the last few years governments at state and national levels have given much attention to spatial data infrastructures (SDIs). The development of SDIs is driven by the business needs of and technological developments to support both the government and the rapidly expanding spatial information industry amid myriads of political decisions. The growth in SDIs in many developed countries worldwide is paralleled by a move to economic rationalism and micro-economic reform, both of which have had a major impact on the role of spatial data infrastructures. This paper uses the State of Victoria as a typical case to analyse the interaction of the forces that have shaped the development of SDIs in Australia, particularly the critical digital cadastral databases (DCDB), and to highlight some generic trends and lessons learnt in managing SDIs in the context of economic rationalism.