Digital Land Survey implementation drawbacks for the Department of Land Records and Surveys (DLRS) BY Md. Mominur Rashid Charge Officer

What is Digital Land Survey Digital Land Survey is the art, science and technology of locating, establishing, defining and describing property boundaries, lines for construction, and the nature of the natural and artificial characteristics of the land. Government has decided to do Digital Survey instead of Manual Survey from next and for this reason Manual Survey is stopped in the whole country.

Equipment needed for Digital Land Surveying and Preparation of Map Global Positioning System (GPS) Electronic Total Station Machine (ETS) Prism (Single and Double) Pillar (GPS & Tri-junction) Laptop for Field Data Processing Hi configured and ARCGIS Software enabled Desktop Computer Large Format Scanner. Plotter/ Printer (Large Format, Laser/ Deskjet Laser Plotter is preferable so that the final publication of required number (100) map sheet can be printed and transferred to DC Office) Qualified Surveyor (With good command in GPS & ETS) Qualified Draftsman (With good command in ARCGIS Software and Data Processing)

Platform (Software) for storage of processed Map data (Meta Data) for future use. Huge number of Map Printing for final publication and gazette notification (If laser plotter is purchased then no need of extra press). Equipment needed for Digital Land Surveying and Preparation of Map

What is Done in Digital Land Survey GPS At first GNSS point is taken from the Survey of Bangladesh (SOB) Based on GNSS point minimum two Ground Control Point (GCP) is established through GPS in every Mouza. GCP/ GPS Pillar is established with coordinate marked on the pillar Traverse Survey is done through ETS machine

Tri-junction Pillar is established. Cadastral Survey is made through ETS. Data Processing is done everyday and printing is made based on observation missing plot data is taken at the next day. Map is made through ARCGIS software. Boundary demarcation/ Mouza adjustment is made by scanning of previous survey map as well as adjacent mouza map through overlay. Printing of Map is made through Large format plotter/ Printer Two copies of every map sheet is made (One with RS Map plot showed and another showing present map with Area) Map is then ready for Khanapuri cum Bhuzarat. After Khanapuri cum Bhuzarat and Attestation the Map is finally corrected and printed showing Plot number and other legend, layout. What is Done in Digital Land Survey

1 GPS for two GCP point in 5 days for 1 mouza 1 mouza cadastral survey by 5 surveyors in 1 month (big size mouza) 10 chainman or khalashi for 1 mouza in 1 month 1 processor/ 1 draftsman for final map preparation in 10 days including scanning and other works. In 3 month 3 mouza cadastral Next 3 month khanapuri cum bhuzarat by 5 surveyors So 5 surveyors needed for 3 mouza in 1 jarip year to complete khanapuri cum bhuzarat (if GPS, Pillar expenses, chainman, ETS, Plotter, Scanner, budget, is provided and work schedule is approved earlier) What is needed to be Done in Digital Land Survey

With 12 ETS Machine 12 Surveyor (with 24 Chainman) can do cadastral survey with Khanapuri cum Bhuzarat of maximum 8 Mouza in one Survey season if GPS, Pillar expenses, chainman, ETS, Plotter, Scanner, budget, is provided and work schedule is approved earlier). So to complete the rest of the mouza (65) of Savar upazila it will be needed 12 surveyor with 12 ETS machine of 8 survey season (year). Is it Viable for DLRS. What is needed to be Done in Digital Land Survey

Problem facing to do Digital Survey (facts) To approve the decision of Digital survey takes 1- 2 month. Only 2 GPS for the whole country (Controlled by DLRS head Office) To get permission of establishing GCP Point takes 1-2 month (due to formalities) To get GNSS point from SOB takes 5 days. To get permission and budget provision for required number of Chainman, Sardar Amin takes 1-2 month. To appoint Sardar Amin and Chainman it takes another 1 month.

Only limited number of ETS machine with qualified surveyor having good command on ETS, GPS. To get prior budget provision of establishing GCP point and Tri-junction pillar takes much time (1-4 month) and also the budget provided is not sufficient. There is no Large Format Scanner. There is no Laser Plotter (Need to depend on DLRS GIS Section for printing of draft map sheet with approval from authority) Sometimes Toner and paper of Deskjet Plotter is insufficiently supplied. Problem facing to do Digital Survey (Facts)

Money involvement to equip one Zonal Settlement Office for Digital Survey and Settlement Operation. EquipmentCost Minimum 1 GPS 25,00,000 Minimum 20 ETS 2,00,00,000 Minimum 1 Large Format Scanner 5,00,000 Minimum 1 Large Format Laser Plotter 15,00,000 Minimum 20 Laptop Computer 10,00,000 Minimum 5 Desktop Computer 2,50,000 Minimum 1 ARCGIS Software 25,00,000 Minimum Training Cost (includes TA/DA) 20,00,000 TotalCost 3,02,50,000

So What’s next……. Due to decision of continuing/ starting Digital Land Survey instead of Manual Survey, the DLRS with its field office is practically hanged (not in operation) because of no new survey and settlement operation there. Only DLRS head office is capable to run traverse survey and establishing GCP point with limited basis. Only Dhaka Zonal Settlement has some equipment and qualified manpower to do digital survey though not fully equipped. Other Zonal Settlement Office has no equipment and qualified man power to do Digital Survey.

So Before collapsing the field office of DLRS further decision to be taken whether huge amount of money to be spent for purchasing required number of different types of equipment's (GPS, ETS, Large format Scanner and Laser Plotter) and Training to be provided for the Surveyor, Draftsman etc. to Do digital Survey Or Continuing the present Manual Survey operation up to that time (Equipped with Digital Survey technology). So What’s next…….