Course Details

Cadastral and Boundary Surveying Training Course

Introduction

Cadastral Surveying is a specialized and legally critical branch of surveying focused on the precise measurement, demarcation, and mapping of land parcels for the purpose of defining property ownership, legal descriptions, and land tenure. It forms the foundational layer of any land administration system, providing the spatial framework for land registration, taxation, conveyancing, and the resolution of boundary disputes. Unlike other forms of surveying, cadastral surveying operates within a complex legal and historical context, requiring not only high technical precision in measurement but also a deep understanding of land laws, historical records, and common law principles related to property rights. The accurate establishment and re-establishment of property boundaries are essential to ensure legal certainty, facilitate land transactions, prevent conflicts, and support sustainable land management. Without a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework, historical evidence, and modern precise measurement techniques specific to cadastral work, surveyors and land professionals risk creating ambiguous boundaries, leading to costly litigation, undermining property rights, and hindering economic development. Many geospatial practitioners may have general surveying skills but lack the specialized knowledge and legal acumen required for the complexities of cadastral and boundary determination.

Conversely, mastering Cadastral and Boundary Surveying equips professionals with the essential skills to meticulously research, measure, and legally define land parcels, ensuring secure property rights and facilitating efficient land administration. This specialized skill set is crucial for transforming legal descriptions and historical evidence into precise physical boundaries, driving legal certainty, dispute resolution, and sound land governance. Our intensive 5-day "Cadastral and Boundary Surveying" training course is meticulously designed to equip land surveyors, land registrars, legal professionals dealing with land, urban planners, land economists, and government officials involved in land administration with the essential theoretical knowledge and extensive practical, hands-on skills required to confidently conduct cadastral surveys, interpret legal descriptions, and resolve boundary issues in accordance with legal requirements and best surveying practices.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "Cadastral and Boundary Surveying" training course is ideal for a broad range of professionals and individuals directly involved in land administration, property management, and legal aspects of land. This includes:

• Land Surveyors: Especially those specializing or wishing to specialize in cadastral work.
• Survey Technicians: Supporting cadastral survey operations.
• Land Registrars and Land Administrators: For understanding the technical basis of land records.
• Legal Professionals: Lawyers, conveyancers, and judges dealing with land and property law.
• Urban and Rural Planners: For understanding land tenure, subdivisions, and development boundaries.
• Land Economists and Valuers: For understanding property units and their definitions.
• Government Officials: Involved in land policy, land management, and land information systems.
• Property Developers: For understanding site boundaries and subdivision regulations.
• GIS Professionals: Working with land parcels, property data, and land information systems.
• Researchers and Academics: In land administration, spatial planning, and real estate.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Cadastral and Boundary Surveying" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the legal and historical context of cadastral surveying and land tenure systems.
• Interpret legal descriptions, title deeds, and historical survey plans to identify property boundaries.
• Apply principles of evidence and senior rights in boundary re-establishment.
• Utilize modern surveying instruments (Total Station, GNSS) for precise boundary measurements.
• Perform cadastral field procedures for boundary marking, subdivision, and consolidation.
• Conduct cadastral computations, including area calculations and boundary adjustments.
• Prepare and interpret cadastral survey plans, diagrams, and reports according to legal standards.
• Appreciate the role of land information systems (LIS) and digital cadastres in modern land administration.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Cadastral Surveying and Land Tenure

• Definition and historical development of cadastral surveying.
• Purpose and importance of cadastral surveys in land administration.
• Concepts of land tenure, property rights, and legal descriptions.
• Types of land registration systems (e.g., deed registration, title registration).
• Role of the cadastral surveyor in society and legal responsibilities.

Module 2: Legal Principles and Evidence in Boundary Surveying

• Understanding sources of boundary evidence: Deeds, plans, monuments, occupation, parol evidence.
• Rules of construction and interpretation of legal descriptions.
• Doctrine of "senior rights" and order of surveys.
• Common law principles related to boundaries (e.g., adverse possession, acquiescence, estoppel).
• Resolving boundary disputes: Role of the surveyor as an expert witness.

Module 3: Boundary Establishment and Re-establishment Techniques

• Field reconnaissance and monumentation strategies.
• Establishing original boundaries based on historical evidence.
• Re-establishing lost or obliterated boundaries using various methods.
• Dealing with natural boundaries (e.g., rivers, coastlines) and their ambulatory nature.
• Techniques for marking and preserving boundary corners.

Module 4: Modern Measurement Techniques for Cadastral Surveying

• Utilizing Total Stations for precise angle and distance measurements in boundary surveys.
• Applying GNSS (GPS/RTK/PPK) for accurate coordinate determination of boundary points.
• Best practices for GNSS control and measurement in urban and rural cadastral environments.
• Accuracy requirements for cadastral surveys and error propagation.
• Comparison of traditional vs. modern methods in efficiency and precision.

Module 5: Cadastral Survey Computations and Adjustments

• Coordinate geometry (COGO) for boundary computations.
• Calculating area of parcels from coordinates and field measurements.
• Subdivision computations: Dividing land into new parcels with specific areas and dimensions.
• Consolidation and amalgamation of parcels.
• Dealing with angular and linear misclosures in boundary traverses.

Module 6: Cadastral Plans, Diagrams, and Data Management

• Requirements for official cadastral survey plans and diagrams.
• Components of a cadastral plan: Bearings, distances, areas, scale, north arrow, monuments.
• Preparation of field notes and survey reports.
• Digital data capture, storage, and management for cadastral surveys.
• Introduction to Land Information Systems (LIS) and digital cadastres.

Module 7: Specialized Cadastral Applications

• Surveying for easements, rights-of-way, and servitudes.
• Condominium/Strata title surveys: Delineating vertical and horizontal boundaries in multi-story buildings.
• Mining claim surveys and their legal basis.
• Hydrographic cadastres: Defining boundaries within water bodies (e.g., riparian rights).
• Surveys for compulsory acquisition and expropriation.

Module 8: Legal Framework, Professional Ethics, and Future Trends

• Overview of national land laws and regulations governing cadastral surveys.
• Role of surveying institutions and professional bodies.
• Professional ethics and responsibilities of a cadastral surveyor.
• The transition to fit-for-purpose land administration and spatial planning.
• Emerging technologies: Lidar, drone photogrammetry, blockchain for land records, and their impact on cadastral surveying.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com