Time-enabled Two-dimensional Digital Cadastre: Case Of The Kenyan Cadastre

Abstract

Research in recent years has shown the importance of adding time, also known as the fourth dimension, into the existing 3D cadastral registration systems. This enables recording of history thus capable of supporting past and future land policies. The main reason for complementing history into the database content is to support more dynamic land administration processes. Nonetheless, some land administration systems, such as the system in Kenya, still maintains 2D registration processes where the temporal administration actions are presented explicitly as textual supplementary data, and are treated independently from the spatial aspect. This paper presents current practice with temporal processes of the Kenyan cadastre, and proposes an ad hoc computer‐based solution to the current unique dynamic structure to facilitate a more comprehensive land administration. The computerized solution is based on state‐based model with the aspiration to uphold the existing cadastral practice while adding the central temporal aspects. This procedure presents an integrated approach to both temporal and spatial aspects for the computerization of this system. The proposed solution is promising in maintaining the temporal information and supporting current and future practice and documenting of history.