Land is important to all aspects of human life and has a key role in the economic well-being of society therefore, land tenure, land ownership, and real property law is a critical part of any developed nation. Together, the processes of how land parcels are held; how they are defined, measured, and described to allow economic transactions; how they are marked to allow their use and defense; and how they are legally protected have allowed for the orderly possession and use of land. In doing so, these processes have also provided the basis for the advanced economy of most developed nations. Very often, these processes—land tenure, boundary surveying, and cadastral systems—are considered separately. They are very much interrelated, and none of these processes may be completely understood without an understanding of the others. Land Tenure, Boundary Surveys, and Cadastral Systems provides an introduction to land tenure, cadastral systems, and boundary surveying, including an understanding of the interrelationship of these areas and their role in land tenure and real property law. This is especially true considering the advent of georeferenced cadastral maps reflecting the location of land parcels relative to many other components of the physical and legal infrastructure. Although intended as a basic text for college-level surveying courses, this book should also be of significant value to cadastral mappers, real property attorneys, land title professionals, and others involved with land transactions.

Prepared under the auspices of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), this book is designed both as a practical handbook for use by land administrators and managers, and as a reference for trainees. The authors take a broad approach beginning with a discussion of the different types of cadastral surveys--those concerned with the extent, value, and ownership of land. They continue with sections on surveying, the handling of data, and the economics and management of land information systems. The book is aimed especially at the developing world, where resources available to acquire and manage land information may be limited.

Discusses types of plane surveys, including property surveys and cadastral surveys. Briefly sketches the history of the rectangular survey system in the United States and describes how the rectangular system works. Tells how to use certain types of maps, such as transportation maps and topographic maps, to locate on-the-ground features. Also discusses using aerial photos. Briefly defines geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS).