PHOTOGRAMMETRY & GPS FOR CADASTRAL LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM 
Brig. J.S. Ahuja, Director 
Pilot Map Production Plant 
Survey of India 
by 
Mr. G.S.Kumar 
Director (Retd.) 
Survey of India 
This paper attempts to review the adoption of photogrammetry for building Cadastral Land Information 
System based on the experiences of the authors of the paper in the various projects in India includin use of GPS in 
differential mode for generating digital data from ground observations for integrating with photogrammetry. 
Photogrammetric method of survey is expected to cost about Rs. 100/- per hectare and will take 15 to 20 
years for each of the States in India. The authors propose a phased approach in building comprehensive Cadastral 
Land Information System by integrating GPS technology with photogrammetry to reduce cost and time significantly, 
while maintaining the accuracy standards. Such a phased and integrated approach is considered appropriate in 
countries needing fresh/re-surveys for building Cadastral Land Information System. 
INTRODUCTION 
The subject of cadastral surveys is a com- 
plex one. Besides technology, it has historical, 
political, legal and social dimensions. In ancient 
India land measurement and taxation was prac- 
tised. According to documentary evidence, in the 
first century BC, ownership of lands of grounds 
were numbered with descriptive information in- 
dicating cultivated, non-cultivated, plains, marshy 
lands, gardens, vegetables, forests, temples of 
Gods, irrigation works, cremation grounds, feed- 
ing houses, water availability points for travellers, 
places of pilgrimage, pasture grounds and roads. 
Boundaries of villages, forests, roads, registered 
gifts, charities and taxes regarding fields also were 
indicated in those records. During 15 - 16th cen- 
turies lands were carefully surveyed and for meas- 
urements the older units were replaced by yards 
and subsequently to metres. 
The most important objective of the sur- 
veys was tax collection. At the end of 18th century, 
East India Company strengthened the surveying 
systems to aid revenue collection. Due to the 
diversity of various traditions in the country, the 
revenue survey system developed heterogenously. 
However, in recent times, area accuracies were 
aimed at_+ 1% of the total area measured. Ac- 
cording to the Indian Forest Act of 1863, various 
areas came under the Forest Revenue depart- 
ments. However, the land holder had full rights of 
ownership subject to the payment of government 
revenue. With growing population and pressure 
on land-use the emphasis has shifted from land 
revenue to better land utilisation and efficient land 
management system. This necessitated more ac- 
curate methods of measurements in surveying. 
316 
In the present day context with pressure 
increasing on land, Cadastral Surveys has become 
a service to both the owner of the land and to the 
State. These Surveys will, therefore, serve multi- 
purpose for fiscal, legal, administration and 
economic development. The benefits will be more 
of social value as there will be reduction in expen- 
diture on solving litigation cases and may not be 
quantifiable in economic terms on the basis of 
cost-benefit ratio. 
REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF CADAST- 
RAL SURVEYS IN INDIA 
Recognising the importance of this prob- 
lem, Resolution No.23 was passed at the second 
United Nations Regional Cartographic Con- 
ference for Asia and the Far-East, held in Tokyo 
in 1958, recommending amongst other points that 
Cadastral Surveys should in all cases be based on 
a sound geodetic control which should be con- 
nected with the existing national geodetic net. 
In India, a beginning was made in 1957 by 
organising regular Cadastral Survey Conferences 
regularly. The first Conference called the ‘First 
All India Cadastral and Forest Surveys 
Conference’, which was held at Delhi, on 9th 
March 1957 felt an immediate need for an enact- 
ment of the Standards Weights and Measures Act 
1957 to be made obligatory for the Central and 
State Governments and other agencies to adopt 
metric weights and measures, which also involved 
changing the scale of Cadastral and Forest Survey 
Maps and the chains being used for survey meas- 
urements. The Second Conference renamed as 
‘All India Cadastral Surveys Conference’ held at 
Mussoorie (U.P) in June 1964 has stressed on the 
following objectives, regarding Cadastral Surveys. 
  
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