Challenges in Title Mapping

The challenge many governments face with the collection, management and compilation of titles data is:

• Complexity of magnitude: Provincial or state scale issues associated with complexity, update frequency and volume of these legal deeds for a district.
• Labour-intensive, manual interpretations: In addition to the enormous amount of titles typically found in a region, often descriptions use metes and bounds which can only be interpreted and mapped manually.
• Data formats: Data is often in multiple sources and formats, making it difficult to compile and maintain.
• Costs: Inefficiencies leading to higher costs to compile and maintain the data.
• Sustainment: Building and maintaining a current database can be challenging with government budgets.

Typically there is no linkage or spatial referencing that reconciles the line work contained within the cadastral datasets with the description of property ownership contained within Land Title certificates. Yet what governments need most is a GIS-ready “parcel” dataset for every ownership title in their district; a common, authoritative source of accessible, accurate, up-to-date title mapping information to provide a base for improved collaboration at all stages between the various levels of government, individuals and the private sector companies active on the land.

Building the title mapping database involves:

• Designing a spatial database containing the special number connecting it to the cadastral database, and a legal description for each title.
• Converting historical textual metes and bounds descriptions into a graphical format.
• Integrating the title information into the cadastral map fabric.
• Constructing title polygons based on the “extent” of the title.

We can receive data in any standard format and the processed data can be returned in any format – providing unparalleled flexibility. Data conversion and data quality are initially addressed on an as-needed basis allowing real business value to be delivered quickly.

The benefits of our approach to creating a title mapping dataset include:

• Considerable cost savings through the reduction of redundant, repeated activities required to synchronize and update many systems.
• Standard title mapping directly linked to the Alberta Land Titles Office Certificate of Title.
• Access to title information through a single provincial cadastral base.
• A cost effective, affordable, province-wide title mapping product available to the public, which provides consistency between municipalities and registry offices.
• An accurate and reliable tool, which allows Land Title offices and all other stakeholders to view potential title conflicts.

MNC also offers experience in creating sustainment models which enables industry, the public and governments access to up-to-date datasets, under a recoverable cost model that fits budgets (such as affordable user-pay systems).