To improve on land administration, surveyors have been urged to embrace and use modern mapping technologies.
Modern surveying technologies, according to surveying experts, make the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy as well as obtaining survey plans easy by removing bureaucracy.
The call was made at the 2018 Mandatory Continuous Professional Development Programme of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Lagos State branch, where members were encouraged to use modern surveying instruments and data processing software packages for quality land administration.
The Principal Consultant of a surveying firm, Sacredion, Mr Chika Okorocha, said the Lagos State Government had commenced the installation of Continuously Operating Reference Station network across the states to improve data collection for land administration.
Okorocha, who spoke on ‘Positional accuracy through Global Navigation Satellite System’, said there should be sensitisation and training in the surveying community on the technology for improved practice.
He stated, “The Lagos State Government is currently changing the system of land administration and that will involve the CORS network across the state. This tracks satellite continuously; it is important to know that without accurate data of survey, there will be overlapping boundaries.
“Residents should also know that what the state is doing will make the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy easy. Currently, there are a lot of bureaucratic processes involved in getting the C-of-O but once the system is concluded, it will be easier and survey plans will be filed accurately. We will no longer have overlapping survey plans.”
Okorocha said the CORS stations were permanent Global Positioning System and GNSS receivers that the state government had started mounting in different locations in the state such as Badagry, Ikorodu, Ikeja and Amuwo Odofin for high accuracy positioned data that could be used in land administration, agriculture and construction.
“No matter the type of surveying you are involved in, you need the GNSS technology.”
The Vice-Chairman, NIS, Lagos State branch and Chairman of the MCPD Organising Committee, Mr Kolade Kasim, said the introduction of the GNSS would make land administration in Lagos and the country at large faster and eliminate sharp practices.
The Chairman, Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, Mr Olufemi Odewale, noted that modern technologies would add value to investment and help residents to get good returns on their investments in land.
He stated, “The age we are in is technology-driven and any profession that wants to impact the populace should always be in tune with technological advancements.
“Lagos State has always pioneered different innovations in terms of technology and its advancement to the profession of surveying in the state and the country in general. What we are talking about now will add value to investment in land.”
Odewale also urged members of the public to cultivate the habit of engaging professionals when investing in land.
The Chairman, NIS, Lagos State branch, Mr Adesina Adeleke, said the MCPD was developed about 20 years ago to help surveyors update their knowledge and technical skills.
Adeleke stated that the theme of the MCPD, ‘Improving geospatial deliverables through modern mapping technologies’, would open new areas of opportunities for surveyors.
[Punch]
