Post by PaddyP on Jul 19, 2005 6:13:16 GMT -5
To date land registry only supply land surveyors with a copy of the filed plan as information on which to base boundary surveys. If copied manually the property is outlined in red on a photocopy of an Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) large scale map of the area, but if photocopied the outline of the property is black and is not distinguishable from the topographic feature which it is supposed to outline. The red pen used to outline the property is normally so thick that OSi topographic detail is sufficiently concealed or obscured thus making it more difficult for the land surveyor to do their job effectively. Inaccuracies of scale due from the use of photocopies are another source of difficulty for land surveyors.
This situation of using large scale OSi mapping as the basis of the Land Registry map record is historical. The Ordnance Survey commenced surveying the 25 inch to 1 mile series of mapping in 1887, so when the Land Registry was established four years later in 1891 it was convenient to use this new source of large scale maps rather than attempt to create new cadastral record for the State. However, this meant that the concept of ¡¥general boundaries¡¦ or ¡¥non-conclusive boundaries¡¦ was born, whereby title boundaries of properties were depicted in relation to the topographic features shown on OSi maps. Unfortunately, this was done in a manner where:
„X The type of topographic feature (wall, hedge, fence) is not shown;
„X The relationship of the title boundary to the topographic feature is left undetermined;
„X The ownership of the topographic feature is left undetermined.
This means that property boundaries in Ireland are in effect ¡¥corridors of uncertainty¡¦ where the actual title boundary between properties is not determined either on the ground or in the Land Registry record and does little to contribute to the security of the title of the property. Currently, land surveyors in Ireland make a ¡¥best educated guess¡¦ on the position of a title boundary due to the lack of adequate information from the Land Registry record. But if this situation is due to change with the introduction of the new digital mapping system, what information do we require to allow us to conduct boundary surveys in a more professional manner? What information do you need on the ground when you are carrying out a boundary survey?
Land Registry¡¦s new digital mapping system could potentially supply us with better quality information which could eliminate some of the guess work and permit land surveyors provide a more professional service to clients. The new Land Registry system should be able to supply:
„X ITM coordinates for the position of property boundaries (derived from digitising the existing Land Registry map record and adjusting the boundary elements to fit OSi detail on the 1:1000, 1:2500 and 1:5000 map series on the ITM coordinate reference system);
„X Dimensions of property boundaries derived from the ITM coordinates;
„X Attributes on the boundary elements describing the lineage of the data (how they were digitised and from what map record).
Internationally, the map record has a dual function within land registration systems;
„X To identify the location of the property within country¡K.i.e. 12th house on left side of a nominated street, in a nominated town¡K.traditionally well performed in Ireland by the OSi map;
„X To identify the extent of the property¡K..i.e. describing the title boundary as clearly as possible using attributes, dimensions, and boundary marks¡K.traditionally not well performed in Ireland due to the lack of classification of boundary features on OSI maps and the lack of adoption of international convention for map accuracy and the lack of publication of the positional accuracy of OSi large scale maps.
What other information might you require to carry out a boundary survey? Of course how you acquire the information from Land Registry (in analogue or in digital form), how you carry out the survey to guarantee the quality of the information created, how the quality of the information created is checked, and how the information is supplied back to Land Registry (in analogue or in digital form) all have to be answered yet. Please refer to the forum page of the IIS website where members can give their answers to these questions or suggest ideas to solve particular problems which are relevant but have not been raised here, or send your comments and ideas to me at patrick.prendergast@dit.ie.
The launch of the digital mapping project represents a significant milestone for the Land Registry map record and provides land surveyors with a unique opportunity to influence decision making in Land Registry to ensure the new system provides them with the information necessary to conduct legal boundary surveys in a comprehensive and professional manner. The first County (Westmeath) goes live on 1st January 2006, so time is short for us to have our debate and come up with what we want from the system. This is your chance, possibly your one and only chance to have your say. If you think you don¡¦t have the time make the time ¡V this is too important an opportunity to miss. It may eventually lead to a licensing system for land surveyors conducting legal boundary surveys in Ireland.
This situation of using large scale OSi mapping as the basis of the Land Registry map record is historical. The Ordnance Survey commenced surveying the 25 inch to 1 mile series of mapping in 1887, so when the Land Registry was established four years later in 1891 it was convenient to use this new source of large scale maps rather than attempt to create new cadastral record for the State. However, this meant that the concept of ¡¥general boundaries¡¦ or ¡¥non-conclusive boundaries¡¦ was born, whereby title boundaries of properties were depicted in relation to the topographic features shown on OSi maps. Unfortunately, this was done in a manner where:
„X The type of topographic feature (wall, hedge, fence) is not shown;
„X The relationship of the title boundary to the topographic feature is left undetermined;
„X The ownership of the topographic feature is left undetermined.
This means that property boundaries in Ireland are in effect ¡¥corridors of uncertainty¡¦ where the actual title boundary between properties is not determined either on the ground or in the Land Registry record and does little to contribute to the security of the title of the property. Currently, land surveyors in Ireland make a ¡¥best educated guess¡¦ on the position of a title boundary due to the lack of adequate information from the Land Registry record. But if this situation is due to change with the introduction of the new digital mapping system, what information do we require to allow us to conduct boundary surveys in a more professional manner? What information do you need on the ground when you are carrying out a boundary survey?
Land Registry¡¦s new digital mapping system could potentially supply us with better quality information which could eliminate some of the guess work and permit land surveyors provide a more professional service to clients. The new Land Registry system should be able to supply:
„X ITM coordinates for the position of property boundaries (derived from digitising the existing Land Registry map record and adjusting the boundary elements to fit OSi detail on the 1:1000, 1:2500 and 1:5000 map series on the ITM coordinate reference system);
„X Dimensions of property boundaries derived from the ITM coordinates;
„X Attributes on the boundary elements describing the lineage of the data (how they were digitised and from what map record).
Internationally, the map record has a dual function within land registration systems;
„X To identify the location of the property within country¡K.i.e. 12th house on left side of a nominated street, in a nominated town¡K.traditionally well performed in Ireland by the OSi map;
„X To identify the extent of the property¡K..i.e. describing the title boundary as clearly as possible using attributes, dimensions, and boundary marks¡K.traditionally not well performed in Ireland due to the lack of classification of boundary features on OSI maps and the lack of adoption of international convention for map accuracy and the lack of publication of the positional accuracy of OSi large scale maps.
What other information might you require to carry out a boundary survey? Of course how you acquire the information from Land Registry (in analogue or in digital form), how you carry out the survey to guarantee the quality of the information created, how the quality of the information created is checked, and how the information is supplied back to Land Registry (in analogue or in digital form) all have to be answered yet. Please refer to the forum page of the IIS website where members can give their answers to these questions or suggest ideas to solve particular problems which are relevant but have not been raised here, or send your comments and ideas to me at patrick.prendergast@dit.ie.
The launch of the digital mapping project represents a significant milestone for the Land Registry map record and provides land surveyors with a unique opportunity to influence decision making in Land Registry to ensure the new system provides them with the information necessary to conduct legal boundary surveys in a comprehensive and professional manner. The first County (Westmeath) goes live on 1st January 2006, so time is short for us to have our debate and come up with what we want from the system. This is your chance, possibly your one and only chance to have your say. If you think you don¡¦t have the time make the time ¡V this is too important an opportunity to miss. It may eventually lead to a licensing system for land surveyors conducting legal boundary surveys in Ireland.