Digital Validation for Survey Plans in Saskatchewan:

The Plan Submissions Online (PSO) Platform

Railway tracks leading toward a grain elevator in Ponteix, Saskatchewan, surrounded by open grassland

See How MNC Developed the PSO Platform for Saskatchewan

MNC developed a secure, automated web platform for survey plan quality control and submission, accelerating plan approval and reducing errors for Saskatchewan Information Services Corporation (ISC).

Project Overview

The Plan Submissions Online (PSO) application is a secure, web-based survey plan submission and validation system developed by MNC (Martin Newby Consulting Ltd.) for Saskatchewan Information Services Corporation (ISC). PSO streamlines the process of submitting digital survey plans by performing automated quality checks before they are sent to ISC’s Plan Processing team.

Building upon the success of Alberta’s Survey Plan Online Checker (SPOC), PSO leverages Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software functionality and introduces digital pre-screening tools that eliminate the need for paper forms. The application validates essential information during the submission process and helps ensure all necessary data and support documents are included, significantly improving plan quality and reducing processing delays.

Challenge

ISC required a modern workflow to support the online submission of digital survey plans by Saskatchewan land surveyors. The goal was to reduce paper-based processes and improve service delivery through automation, while also enhancing the quality of submitted plans to reduce rejection rates and improve efficiency for all users.

Two construction workers wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests conducting a land survey at a work site

Key Challenges Included:

Eliminating the reliance on manual form submissions.

Reducing the number of plan rejections due to incomplete or non-compliant files.

Improving the quality and consistency of submitted CAD files.

Streamlining review processes to support faster approvals and greater service reliability.

The Solution

Building upon the success of the Survey Plan Online Checker (SPOC) application developed for Alberta Land Titles, MNC began development of a solution for ISC that leveraged proven functionality from the original project, creating a customized, Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) solution tailored for Saskatchewan.

The resulting web application, called Plan Submissions Online (PSO), allows digital survey plans to be submitted online and pre-screened prior to acceptance by ISC. Surveyors can enter, check, and store plans of survey and descriptive plans online before formally submitting them for examination and approval.

Essential data is validated as it is entered, helping users ensure all necessary information and supporting documents are included. The system improves plan quality by performing various checks prior to submission, including CAD layers, geo-referencing, and dimension annotations. It also validates location and allows the user to visually confirm their plan against Saskatchewan’s cadastral mapping base and surrounding plans.

Plan submission portal dashboard showing account tabs, request filters, and a request list

Key Steps in the Solution:

Parcel Closures

Checks to confirm parcel closures.

FME-based Checks

FME-based checks for required survey elements, such as a north arrow, to confirm inclusion.

Summary of File Analysis

Generates a summary of file analysis.

Iterative Checks

Supports iterative checks, with results reported to the surveyor until the CAD file passes quality review.

Checklists for Plan Examiners

Produces checklists for plan examiners, summarizing automated QA tests performed.

Submission Package

Creates a complete submission package, confirming that all required documents are included for registration.

Associate Supporting Documents

Allows surveyors to associate supporting documents with the survey plan.

Plan Index & Tracking System

Extracts relevant information from the CAD file and supporting documents to populate the PITS (Plan Index & Tracking System) database.

Spatial Queries

Performs spatial queries to extract information based on geographic location.

TIFF Format

Converts all documents to standardized TIFF format and generates thumbnail images.

Information-only Purposes

Supports submission of certain plan types (e.g., bridge plans, historic plans not in the Land Surveys Directory) for information-only purposes, bypassing PSO validation.

ArcGIS Server Web Services

Transfers data using ArcGIS Server Web Services for seamless system integration.

The Results

The implementation of PSO has improved the efficiency, quality, and reliability of survey plan submissions in Saskatchewan.

Laptop displaying a digital survey plan map with supporting data records, framed by a large gray arc graphic.

Key benefits included:

Reduced Errors and Costs

Early error detection minimizes rework and lowers the cost associated with failed submissions.

Higher-Quality Submissions

CAD files are validated for geo-referencing, parcel closure, and required survey elements, improving overall plan quality.

User-Friendly Experience

Surveyors receive alerts if any necessary information is missing or incorrect, making it easier to resolve issues before formal submission.

Visual Confirmation Tools

Plans can be previewed against the most current cadastral fabric, allowing surveyors to detect anomalies or conflicts in advance.

Faster Approvals

Automation of technical checks expedites the approval process and reduces examiner workload.

Reduced Staff Effort at ISC

With submissions pre-screened, ISC staff can focus more time on plan registration rather than verifying technical compliance.

Increased Security

Survey plan packages are compressed, encrypted, and accessible only to ISC staff, safeguarding sensitive data.

Improved Metadata for Workflow Automation

Verified metadata supports downstream automation in approval, unit counts, location indexing, and mapping tasks.

PSO demonstrates how intelligent automation and GIS-driven validation can significantly modernize land registry processes. For jurisdictions looking to streamline digital survey plan workflows, MNC’s scalable solutions offer proven results.

Automated

VALIDATION REDUCING REWORK & ERRORS

Fully Digital Submissions

REPLACING PAPER PROCESSES

Higher First-Pass Quality

WITH STANDARDIZED CHECKS

About MNC

The Cadastral and Parcel Mapping Experts

MNC is a trusted leader in cadastral and parcel management with 25+ years of experience delivering GeoAI-ready datasets, modernizing parcel fabrics, and automating GIS workflows. As an Esri Gold and Cornerstone Partner with Parcel Management and State and Local Government Specialties, MNC provides scalable advanced GIS, ArcGIS Pro, FME automation, MicroStation, AutoCAD and cloud-ready geospatial systems that improve data quality and support government land administration modernization across Canada, the USA, and the Caribbean.

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