Page 79 - ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services – Executive Summary

2 The Project(s)

2.1 Vision and content

The main challenge is to implement land registry and cadastral systems in an efficient way in view of the
following factors:
 acceptable costs;
 reduced construction time; and
 suitability for use.

These goals can be achieved by implementing the concept of “Fit-For-Purpose”. This concept requires a
simple indication of properties and boundaries and is often adequate to meet basic land administration needs
as opposed to developing and enforcing rigid regulations and demanding spatial accuracy of objects and
boundaries which are time consuming and not affordable. Therefore, the approach used for building land
administration systems in less developed countries should be flexible and focused on citizens’ needs, such as
providing security of tenure and control of land use, rather than focusing on top-end technical solutions and
high accuracy surveys.

2.2 Implementation of concept of “Fit-For-Purpose”

There is no specific design for a land registry system. Local traditions, existing infrastructure, etc. will require
different solutions, especially in countries where cadastres have been in operation for many decades.

A good land information system includes textual files and maps that are closely linked to each other. The
cadastral systems in the majority of west European countries contain different registers, each under a
different administration, although the registers are operated partly or wholly by the Government in each
case. In some of the countries field surveys are undertaken by private surveyors, in other countries by
governmental or local public agencies. The requirement for geometric precision varies considerably. Some
countries require precise surveying and mapping of boundaries, whilst others are far less demanding in this
respect.
Most of the countries with a formal land information system in place have already computerized their
systems, or are in the process of doing so. The existing manual systems frequently limit the opportunities for
implementing optimal solutions.
Furthermore, the conversion of existing files and survey data requires significant resources. Countries
building new land information systems from scratch, will have the benefit of not being restricted by existing
systems, and will have the opportunity to implement optimal solutions from the very beginning. This should
include the introduction of computer technology, both for administrative data and for the maps and graphical
data.
Introducing a new land registry system, including the implementation of formal land information registers
and the parcel (index) maps, is a huge and time-consuming process. The importance of investigations and
thorough planning cannot be underestimated. It is important to stress that the development of related
legislation, an improved organizational structure, financial mechanisms, and technical issues are closely
interconnected. Experiences indicate that issues related to legislation, organisation and funding are
frequently more complex to solve than most technical issues.

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