451-607 Land Administration

Subject Outline - 2008

 

Objective             To provide an understanding of the need for effective and efficient land administration systems and spatial data infrastructures (SDIs). To review a variety of technologies for developing and maintaining such systems, and to understand and analyse a range of local and overseas approaches to land administration in both developed and developing countries.

 

Generic Skills     The University expects its graduates to be educated and well-informed, able to contribute effectively to their communities wherever in the world they choose to live and work.  It expects University of Melbourne graduates to obtain the following qualities and skills from this subject:

 

                                                               i.      Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self‑directed learning; logical and analytical reasoning;

 

                                                             ii.      Intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity;

 

                                                            iii.      Openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom;

 

                                                           iv.      Extensive knowledge of a particular discipline or professional area, including relevant professional knowledge and skills, and informed respect for the principles, disciplines, values and ethics of a chosen profession;

 

                                                             v.      International awareness and openness to the world, based on understanding and appreciation of social and cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights and dignity;

 

                                                           vi.      Ability to plan work and to use time effectively.

 

                                                          vii.      Ability to work in a team and liaise at all levels.

 

                                                        viii.      Problem solving.

 

                                                           ix.      Ability to plan work, use time effectively and meet deadlines.

 

Structure            A one semester course of 52 hours of lectures, tutorials, and assignments. 

 

Syllabus              Topics covered include the concept of land and the humankind to land relationship; evolution of cadastres and land administration infrastructures; the cadastral concept and legal, fiscal and multi-purpose cadastres; cadastral surveying and mapping – boundary options and technical options; principles and concepts of land registration; rights, restrictions and responsibilities related to land; cadastral systems in developing countries including informal cadastres, parallel cadastres, marine cadastres and customary tenures; land administration and sustainable development; relevant international declarations and statements concerned with land administration; cadastral reform; land administration “tool box”; land administration and spatial information systems in Victoria and associated government policy; the role of licensed cadastral surveyors; institutional arrangements supporting land administration; spatial data infrastructures –principles, issues and case study; digital cadastral data bases; modelling, designing and evaluating cadastral and land administration systems; land markets and their relationship to planning, valuation and cadastre; ; land and marine administration, seamless platform, e-land administration, cadastral data modelling.

 

Lecturers           Associate Prof. Abbas Rajbifard (Room B406, abbas.r@unimelb.edu.au),

 

                            The majority of the lectures and tutorials will be given by Associate Prof. Abbas Rajabifard. Guest lecturers include: Ms. Jude Wallace , Prof. Ian Williamson, , Mr. John Tulloch (Surveyor-General of Victoria), Mr Simon Adcock (Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, Victorian Government), as well as researchers in the Department of Geomatics: Mr Rohan Bennett, Mr Mohsen Kalantari, Mr Hossein Mohammdi, and Mr Andrew Binns, Mr Pual Box, Ms Sheelan Vaez.

 

                           Abbas Rajbifard will introduce the guests and describe how their presentation fits into the overall objectives of the subject.

The subject outline handouts and any other relevant material are available on: http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/subjects/451/418/index.html

 

WWW site         Mohsen Kalantari (s.kalantarisoltanieh@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au)

                            (C417 (The Attic), Postgraduate Room, Civil Engineering & Geomatics Building)

 

Assignments        Jude Wallace (Room D317, j.wallace@unimelb.edu.au) / Mohsen Kalantari  (s.kalantarisoltanieh@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au)(C417 (The Attic), Postgraduate Room, Civil Engineering & Geomatics Building)

 

Special Assignment    An additional assignment will be conducted for Masters students enrolled in Land Administration 451-607.

 

                            Times and dates of this assignment are to be confirmed in class.

                           

                                                       

Text                    Rajabifard A (2007), Towards a Spatially Enabled Society,The University of Melbourne Press, Library Call: TBA

 

                            Dale, P.F. and J.D.McLaughlin. (1999). Land Administration, Oxford University Press.  Library Call: UniMelb Engin 354.34 DALE  (in Engineering Library available for 7-day loans; also available in University Book Room)

                             Ian Williamson, Abbas Rajabifard and Mary-Ellen Feeney (Editors). Developing Spatial Data Infrastructures: from concept to reality.  Library Call:  UniM Engin 910.285 INTE (in Engineering Library available for 7-day loans; also available in University Book Room)

 

                            Williamson, I.P, Enemark, S, and Wallace, J. (editors) Sustainability and Land Administration Systems Library Call: TBA

                            The subject outline, many references and lecture summaries are available on the WWW page of A/Professor Rajabifard. Lecture summaries may not be available on the www until the week prior to the lecture. The Department will provide a facility for students to make a CD of the lecture material for revision purposes at the end of the Semester.

 

References         Articles and papers: http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/research/SDI_research/publications/index.htm


Comparison of different land administration systems: www.cadastraltemplate.org

                            Reference list and glossary: http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/subjects/451/418/Resources%20list.doc

 

                            The following reference books are available for 7-day loans in the Engineering Library:

   

                            Dale, P. & McLaughin, J.  Land Information management: an introduction with special reference to cadastral problems in third world countries

                            Library Call: UniMelb Engin 333.73130285 DALE

 

                            Dale, P.  Cadastral surveys within the Commonwealth

                            Library Call: UniMelb Engin 333.324 DALE

 

                            Larsson, G.  Land Registration and cadastral systems: tools for land information and management

                            Library Call: UniMelb Engin 333.30285 LARS

                            Dowson, E & Sheppard, V.  Land Registration

                            Library Call: UniMelb Engin 333.34 DO

                           

Location& Time   TUESDAYS 9AM – 11AM Room Doug McDonell-521[Level 5 Theatrette]

THURSDAYS 9-11am: Room: Engineering-E2 Theatre

 Assessment       3-hour written examination                                                                         50%

                            4000-word essay (group – see course syllabus for due dates)                    20%

                            Presentation (group – see course syllabus for due dates)                            10%

                            Special assigment 1000-word essay (Due 1st May)                              20%                                                                                

                                                                                       

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT

 

Task       

 

 The class will split into small groups. Each group will be responsible for designing an appropriate land administration project for one of the following situations for a country or a province/region/state.

  • A transition situation in Eastern and Central Europe ( Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Bulgaria, Lithuania)
  • A newly industrialised situation in the Asian region ( Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, one of the 23 Chinese provinces, an Indian state other than Andhra Pradesh or Gujurat,
  • A developing Asian economy ( Mongolia, Burma)
  • An Islamic country (other than Iran, Iraq and Indonesia)
  • A developed economy with legacy administration systems ( England, Scotland, Ireland, Finland)
  • An Anglophone African country ( Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria)

Report

The assignment has four components:

  • Understanding the global project environment and the current issues . A recent assessment of land projects in urban areas is in Payne, Durand-Lasserve, and Rakodi, “Social and economic impacts of land titling programmes in urban and peri-urban areas: A review of the literature”, World Bank Urban Research Symposium, Washington DC, 14-16 May, 2007. Ppt http://www.worldbank.org/urban/symposium2007/presentations/payne.pdf . paper http://www.worldbank.org/urban/symposium2007/papers/payne.pdf
  • A short description of the country including its geography/environment, history, population/demography, government, legal system, political system, economic base and wealth, education resources, professional and technical resources etc. This initial analysis will lead to a more thorough description of the land related issues facing the country. This may include an overview of the existing land administration system (strengths/weaknesses), security of tenure, operation of land markets, indigenous issues, environmental and social issues facing land including women's access, religious issues affecting land, corruption, informal settlements, illegal squatting in forests, illegal logging or mining, impact of multi-nationals, impact of the IMF and World Bank, terrorism, and so on.
  • Based on your understanding of the global project environment, the description of the country and the land related issues identified, design a land administration project which will address: appropriate land policies, institutional arrangements; land registration, cadastral and land administration; surveying and mapping; technical, legal and spatial data infrastructures; and human resource components.
  • Now undertake a critical analysis of your design. Identify the implementation issues facing your country, addressing the land administration components in paragraphs 1 and 2.

There will be three forums led by Jude on description, design and implementation. Students will be required to participate in these tutorials by taking part in discussions. Students need to research their country before attending the forums. More information regarding this assignment will be provided throughout the semester.

.

Presentation 

                   In teaching weeks 11-13 each group will present their three components in one 25 minute session + 5 mins question time.

 

                   Each sub group will be marked as a group for their presentation and joint report.

 

Length        4000-word group essay (3-5 students), delivered in digital form by CD or email , and 30 minute joint presentation

 

Marks        Both the essay and presentation will be marked upto 80% for content, and upto 20% for presentation, graphics, grammar, spelling and layout etc.

 

Due Date

                   15 May 2008.

 

2 marks out of the total mark of 100 for the subject, up to a maximum of 20 marks, will be deducted for each day the essay is late. For example if the group submits the report five days late and an individual student has received a mark of 76% for the whole subject then the final mark will be reduced to 66%. If 10 days late then the maximum mark for the subject will be 80%.  After 10 days essays will not be accepted.

 

 

Associate Professor Abbas Rajabifard