3D cadastres for densely occupied informal situations: Necessity and possibility. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffith-Charles, Charisse; Sutherland, Michael
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 98(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Informal tenure -- 3D cadastre -- Land administration -- LiDAR; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104372
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: 3D cadastres are primarily described for high-valued urban property. 3D cadastres can be demonstrated to be useful for supporting secure tenure in high density informal settings. LiDAR data, at low cost specification are not ideal but can be used to prepare the graphic component of the 3D cadastre for low-income environments. Abstract: Much of 3D cadastre research and development targets high valued urban land, including condominiums, apartment buildings, and office complexes. The value of the land and the economic activity generated from transactions in this urban space potentially support the cost and time spent on establishing and maintaining a 3D cadastre. Methods for data acquisition and for construction and maintenance of the 3D cadastre are also simpler in the regular and formally planned and surveyed structures of the high value urban environment. Low-income, urban areas of informal tenure and informal development, however, also need and can benefit from a land administration system supported by a 3D cadastre but are neglected in the 3D cadastre research. Mechanisms are required for quick and cost effective construction of a 3D cadastre in this type of area to support land management and regularisation procedures, and to provide security of tenure. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is one technology that may be examined to differentiate structures in densely occupied environments where limited information and limited resources must be able to be used for managing the land and also protecting informal rights. This paper initially posits the need for 3D cadastres in low-income but densely structured urban settlements. It then tests the ability of an existing LiDAR dataset together with orthoimagery, derived to be low cost so therefore having limited specifications, for capturing sufficient definition of 3D occupation in the low-income, densely structured case study area of Laventille in Trinidad and Tobago. The difficulties of manually or automatically discriminating between close and overlapping structures and boundaries are highlighted and it is found that there is still a need for adjudication and verification of boundaries on the ground, even when physical features can be discerned from the software.