Cadastral Surveying and Land Registration
What the domain tests
Cadastral Surveying and Land Registration tests the legal boundary survey and the chain from field evidence to registered land record. It examines boundary monumentation, plan drawing, area computation, statutory lodgement, and the surveyor's role in preventing overlap and dispute.
Core rules
- Boundary evidence comes before coordinates: recover original monuments, occupations, deeds and adjacent plans; coordinates support the boundary, they do not create it.
- A cadastral plan must show bearings, distances, coordinates, area, boundary description, and references to the survey and datum used.
- Only a registered surveyor may sign and seal a cadastral survey plan; technologists may work under supervision and must not certify independent boundary work beyond their registration.
- Check closure and area consistency before lodgement. Gaps and overlaps between adjoining parcels must be resolved, not hidden.
- Registration follows the statutory chain: survey plan, deed/instrument, land registry lodgement, and title/consent processing under the applicable state law and the Land Use Act framework.
Worked example
Four boundary points in metres, clockwise: A(0,0), B(50,0), C(50,30), D(0,30). Shoelace sum = (0×0 + 50×30 + 50×30 + 0×0) − (0×50 + 0×50 + 30×0 + 30×0) = 3000 − 0 = 3000; area = 1500 m². In hectares: 1500/10,000 = 0.15 ha. If the deed says 0.18 ha, do not simply change the coordinates; recheck boundary evidence, scale, and whether the deed area is approximate or based on a different parcel.
Traps
Computing area by scaling a printed plan; ignoring an adjoining plan; treating GNSS coordinates as a legal boundary without monument evidence; and signing a plan prepared by an unregistered person.