Digital cadastral databases: the Australian experience

Abstract

Countries in the world that have maintained some form of cadastral mapping are now proceeding to a full digital representation of these cadastral maps with the ultimate aim of having country wide coverage at an accuracy level consistent with current technology in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and surveying. GIS have shown the economic and information benefits of integrating the data sets and functions of the mapping, land titling and land management institutions. Also in each of these countries the current status and future directions of digital cadastral databases (DCDB) in any jurisdiction depends very much on the historical origin of the cadastral systems and the land related institutional structures (or current restructuring). In contrast to the varied paths to the present digital cadastral maps of any country the current problems and required solutions are surprisingly similar worldwide.

This paper focuses on the current problems and solutions strategies for state DCDBs within Australian with particular focus on the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW). A brief explanation of the origin of state DCDBs in Australia is followed by an overview of the information flow in the cadastral systems to contextualise the current issues and strategies for the update and upgrade of the Australian state DCDBs.