THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN CADASTRES
Prof. Ian WILLIAMSON, Australia
Key words:
Abstract
Today's modern cadastres have evolved from the European cadastres
of the 18th and 19th Centuries, with the French Napoleonic Cadastre
and the 'Maria Theresia Cadastre' introduced by the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy having the major influence. This influence spread to much of
the non-English speaking world. However it was not until the last 20
years or so that the English speaking world (particularly in Canada,
then the USA and then Australia) also "discovered" cadastres
and started systematically applying cadastral principles to their land
administration systems. The result is that today virtually every
country world wide is aware of the importance of cadastres to some
degree.
The role of cadastres in documenting property rights and in
supporting the operation of land markets has been increasingly
utilised by The World Bank and other international finance and aid
organisations during this period. The importance of cadastres in
support of land markets gained momentum over the last two decades:
- with the collapse of Communism economies and the rush to
establish market economies;
- the fall of apartheid in Southern Africa and elsewhere; and
- the de-colonisation of many countries with their subsequent
desire to establish land administration systems which served all
society rather than an expatriate or local elite.
The considerable attention that land administration, and
particularly the core cadastres, have received in recent times has
resulted in a great deal of activity world-wide to better understand
cadastral systems. There have been conferences, workshops, books,
journal articles, academic courses and declarations on all aspects of
cadastres, with the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)
playing a key role. All this activity has improved our understanding
of the cadastral concept and the role of cadastres in society. This
paper provides an insight into the evolution of cadastral thinking
over the last 20 years or so. It will highlight initiatives such as
the FIG Statement on the Cadastre in 1995, the UN-FIG Bogor
Declaration on Cadastral Reform in 1996, the FIG Cadastre 2014 in 1998
and the UN-FIG Bathurst Declaration on Land Administration for
Sustainable Development in 1999.
CONTACT
Prof. Ian Williamson
Director, United Nations Liaison, International Federation of
Surveyors
Professor of Surveying and Land Information
The University of Melbourne
Department of Geomatics
Parkville
Victoria 3052
AUSTRALIA
Tel. + 61 3 9344 4431
Fax + 61 3 9347 4128
Email: ianpw@unimelb.edu.au
23 March 2001
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