Extracting parcel boundaries from satellite imagery for a Land Information System

Land Information System (LIS) primarily depends on the availability of reliable spatial and non-spatial datasets. Currently, the cadastral maps in Pakistan are mainly in paper format lacking cartographic standards. Therefore, these maps cannot be used directly as an input to the LIS. Such a situation demands that all cadastral information in these traditional maps be timely maintained in standard forms with quality indicators as information for the users. Considering the present situation in Pakistan, this paper firstly elaborates the present cadastral mapping system and the methods used for producing, updating, and maintaining these cadastral data. This research paper investigates on the use of satellite imagery in timely maintaining of parcels boundaries and cadastral mapping in LIS. The abilities of remote sensing imageries in parcel boundaries extraction and cadastral mapping are assessed using QuickBird high-resolution satellite images for two case study areas in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. This study introduces the use of QuickBird panchromatic and colour imageries to develop a method for cadastral surveying through on-screen digitisation techniques. This study shows that the cost and time can be reduced to its half if the cadastral maps are generated using the newly developed technique.