Land Lingo

A quick guide to terminology used in the business of Land Administration and Land Information

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Aboriginal Freehold

Aboriginal freehold is a type of freehold tenure applying to land granted under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976. Though simply recorded in the Land Titles Register as “Freehold” land held under Aboriginal freehold title cannot be dealt with as normal freehold as the title vests in the community rather than in individuals

Accuracy

With regard to spatial data, the degree of conformity with a standard, whether absolute or relative. Accuracy relates to the quality of the result so that higher accuracy implies that a measurement is nearer the truth.

Acquisition of Land

This refers to the process whereby the Government secures land in order to meet Government objectives. The process is defined under the Lands Acquisition Act and involves compensation to the previous owner, though land may also be acquired by land exchange agreements

ADMAPS - Administrative Maps

Admaps are a standard series of cadastral map products used for general administrative purposes by government agencies. They show all land parcels, parcel numbers, road names and street addresses, plus some topographic information. They are available as map sheets or as Admap booklets for the main populated areas of the Territory. There is also a version available with Town Planning Zones overlaid.

Alienation

The process by which Crown Land is given a tenure that can be registered

AMG - Australian Map Grid

A Cartesian coordinate system based on the Universal Transverse Mercator projection and the Australian Geodetic Datum. The unit of measure is the metre.

Analogue

With regard to remote sensing and mapping, this refers to information in graphical or pictorial form, such as an aerial photograph, as opposed to digital data

ANZLIC – the Spatial Information Council

The Australia New Zealand Land Information Council, which is the peak body for coordination of land and geographic information management in Australia and New Zealand.

Arc

With regard to digital spatial data, a sequence of coordinates that define a complex line

Area

A fundamental unit of geographical information

Attribute

Non-graphical information associated with a point, line or area element in a Land or Geographical Information System. For example the registered owner of a land parcel

AGD - Australian Geodetic Daum

The framework used for coordinates in Australia since 1966. It has now been superseded by the Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) but many maps and data sets are still referenced to it

Bathymetric Surveying

The measure of the depth and shape of the ocean floor. Usually associated with the mapping of the resources of the sea bed.

Cadastre

The public register of the land boundaries that defines the separate holdings of land

Caveat

This is a dealing that is lodged on a Certificate of Title that warns anyone searching the Register that there is an interest that may prevent another dealing being registered on the Title. The Caveat alerts prospective buyers that there is a third party interest in the land must be resolved before it can be transferred (Buyer Beware)

Centroid

In mapping or digital spatial data, the point located within a polygon which coincides with the centre of gravity of a uniform sheet having the same shape

Certificate of Title

This is a page or record in the Register of Titles specifying the ownership of a defined land parcel and the lodged or registered interests or claims against that ownership. The Registrar-General may hold the register in any form and most NT titles are now legally held in electronic format

Closure of Road

Roads may be closed by legal processes. Under the relevant legislation notice of the proposed closure is advertised so that the community has the opportunity to object or make submissions

Compiled Plan

A plan or map which has been created for administrative purposes from a variety of source data. For example, a plan of Aboriginal Land Claims and their status consists of a cadastral map with Claim areas and their status overlaid

Composite Map

A single map created by joining together several separate digital maps or data sets

Contour

A line connecting points of equal elevation

Coordinates

Linear or angular quantities which designate the position of a point in a given reference or grid system (eg AMG Coordinates)

Crown Land

Land which has no official tenure under land legislation and which is held and managed by the Government. The Government may licence the use of such land for specific purposes (eg Grazing Licence) or may alienate the land by selling or leasing

Crown Lease

A lease of land that can be issued under a variety of legislation and which grants the holder certain uses of the land. For example, a Pastoral Lease is issued under the Pastoral Land Act

Data Base

An organised, integrated collection of data stored so as to be usable for a variety of purposes

Data Capture

The process of encoding data. In terms of mapping this involves digitising of analogue maps or capture of field data using electronic instruments and associating this with encoded attribute data

Data Set

A named collection of logically related features arranged in a prescribed manner. For example, all water features form a water data set

Datum

A Datum is a framework that defines a coordinate system and includes the parameters defining the earth’s surface.

DCDB - Digital Cadastral Data Base

A jurisdiction’s cadastral map managed and maintained in digital format. The NT’s cadastre has been maintained in digital format since 1986

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

A digital representation of the earth’s surface in terms of elevation values (X, Y, Z where Z represents the surface elevation)

Digital Terrain Model (DTM)

A digital model of the terrain surface - similar to a DEM but often enhanced by planimetric information

Digitising

The process of converting analogue maps and other sources of data to a computer readable form

Easement

This gives an individual or company a right to use or engage in some activity over land that is owned by someone else. For example, a sewerage easement to the Power Water Corporation gives the Corporation certain rights

Encumbrance

This is a lodged or registered interest in land held by someone who is not the registered proprietor (eg a mortgage, easement, caveat)

Fee Simple

Also means Freehold - this is the highest form of estate that can be held by a person without being the absolute owner, which is the Crown

Format

The specified arrangement of data. For example this can be the layout of a document, the arrangement of data in a records or the arrangement of parts of a computer instruction

GDA - Geocentric Datum of Australia

A coordinate framework for Australia which is compatible with the Global Positioning System (GPS). The GDA was adopted by all Australian jurisdictions in 1994.

Geocentric Datum

A datum based on the Earth's centre of mass (or geocentre); as distinct from a regional datum, such as the Australian Geodetic Datum, whose origin does not coincide with the Earth's centre of mass

Geodesy - Geodetic

The study of the size and shape of the Earth's surface, the measurement of the position and motion of points on the surface and the configuration and area of large portions of its surface

Geographic Information

Also Land Information and Spatial Information - Information that can be related to a location on, above or beneath the earth’s surface, including water surfaces

Georeferencing

The process of defining the position of geographical objects relative to a standard reference grid. For example the allocation of geographical coordinates to street intersections

GIS - Geographic Information System

A system for capturing, storing and using data which is spatially referenced. Often the term is associated with a specific set of information technology components

GPS - Global Position System

A satellite based navigation system developed by the United States Department of Defense and widely used for civilian navigation and positioning. A civilian satellite service is expected to be available around 2010

Instrument

A category of legal document (eg transfer, mortgage) under any Act which affects registration of land holdings

ICSM - Intergovernment Committee on Surveying and Mapping

The intergovernmental committee, including Defence representatives, that coordinates surveying and mapping activities across Australia and New Zealand

ILIS – Integrated Land Information System

This is a suite of integrated on-line computer systems and data bases that provide information relating to land titles, valuations, land parcels, town planning, building and other administrative activity on all land parcels in the Territory

Joint Tenancy

Ownership of land in common by more than one person where there is a right of survivorship - that is, on the death of one of the owners the share of the deceased goes to the surviving owners

Land

Includes the space above and below the surface

Land Claim

A claim made over land as allowed under the Aboriginal Land rights Act (NT ) 1976

Land Information Management

The activity of capturing, organising, integrating, managing and distributing digital land related information and derived products for use by government and the community

Land Parcel

An area of land that is uniquely defined for ownership or land use purposes. In the NT each parcel has a unique location, lot and plan identifier

Layer

A logical separation of geographical information such that each layer represents a different theme. For example a composite digital map may consist of a land boundaries layer, rivers and streams layer, roads layer, etc

Lease

A grant of possession of property for a number of years at specific rentals and subject to specific conditions

Legend

The part of a map that is used to explain the meaning of the symbols used to depict geographical information and to provide the user with other information on the information depicted

Licence Agreement

With regard to digital data, a formal contract that allows the Licensee to access and use data which is “owned” by the Licensor for a fee and under a specific set of conditions

LIS - Land Information System

A system for capturing, storing and using data which is spatially referenced. Usually not associated with specific technologies and in the NT used as the generic term for land / geographic / spatial information systems including the institutional framework and standards established to create and manage the LIS across the government and community

Map

A record, either in analogue or digital form, that describes the spatial distribution of geographical features in a specified area

Map Projection

The representation of the speroidal surface of the earth on a flat surface. The mathematical algorithms used to effect the transformation depend on the specific purpose required, such as preservation of shape, correct area, direction, etc

Metadata

Information about data or data sets. Metadata is essential for the user to determine the correct use of a data set, whether in digital or analogue form. ANZLIC has defined a standard Metadata profile for use at the national level in the Australian Spatial Data Directory (ASDD)

Mortage

An agreement to repay a loan with interest over a certain period by the owner of a property to the mortgagee

Mortgagee

The lender of moneys covered by the mortgage - such as a bank - to the property owner

Mortgagor

The borrower who has used the property as security for the mortgage debt

National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT)

Based in Perth WA, the NNTT is responsible for administration of the Commonwealth Native Title Act and seeks the assistance of all jurisdictions in clearly defining the extent of and interests in Claims as they arise

Native Title

A collection of rights and interests for access to and use of land in accordance with traditional laws. These are fully defined in the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.

Native Title Claim

The process whereby Aboriginal people can make a claim over an area of land

Ownership

All land is subject to tenure, which means the Crown is the ultimate owner. Land holders are tenants in one form or another and are termed Registered Proprietors

Pixel

One of a regular array of cells in a collection of raster data - a picture element. For example, the spatial accuracy of a satellite image can be described in terms of the area covered by each pixel on the ground

Polygon

Any area bounded by a closed line or series of lines. This a land parcel is also a polygon

Property

A general term describing a person’s possessions. “Real Property” refers to a piece of land owned by a person

PSMA - PSMA Australia Limited

An unlisted Public Company owned by Australian governments to assemble and distribute national spatial data sets from jurisdictional source data. Its predecessor the Public Sector Mapping Agencies was established in 1993 to deliver a single National topographic data base to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to support the 1996 Census.

Raster Data

Data expressed as an array of pixels with spatial position implicit in the ordering of the pixels

Raster Map

A map encoded in the form of a regular array of cells

Raster to Vector

The process of converting an image made up of cells into one described by lines and polygons

Record

A set of related contiguous data in a computer file

Remote Sensing

The technique of obtaining data about the environment and the earth from a distance - eg from aerial photography or satellites

Revision

The process of updating or adding to and revising existing information to take account of change. With regard to standard mapping series most jurisdictions have set revision programs

Rezoning

The process of changing the Town Planning attributes of an area of land in terms of what the land can and cannot be used for under the Planning Act

Satellite Imagery

Images of the earth taken from orbiting satellites. Images can be taken in a variety of forms so as to detect specific information about the earth, vegetation and other types of land cover

Scale

The relationship between the size of an object on a map and its size in the real world

Scanning

The process of digitising whereby an image or map is automatically detected and most of its attributes are converted into digital data in raster form. Subsequently a process can be applied whereby the raster data is converted to vector form and any remaining attributes also captured or more clearly defined

Search

The common term used to describe the process of obtaining details about a piece of land by examining documents (eg a title search, a tenure status search)

Spatial Information

Information which includes a reference to a two or three dimensional position in space as one of its attributes

SPOT Imagery

Satellite imagery produced by the French government remote sensing agency whose name is abbreviated to SPOT

Stock Route

A strip of land reserved for the droving of livestock . Stock routes may be hundreds of kilometres long and usually incorporate watering points and grazing areas

Subdivision

The process whereby a parcel of land or a building is divided into two or more parcels or units, or alternatively multiple parcels are consolidated into one or more parcels.

Surveying

The measurement of dimensions (contour, position, boundaries, area, height etc.) of any part of the earth's surface (land or water) or any cultural feature. Depending on the type of survey undertaken and the degree of accuracy required, "surveys" may involve the application of the theory, principles and techniques of geodesy, photogrammetry and cartography

Surveying Plan

A plan prepared by a Licensed Surveyor from field survey data and previous survey plan data according to standards and directions of the Surveyor-General. An approved Survey Plan underlies all land titles and the Registrar-General will not register any new title without such a plan

Tenants in Common

This is a form of land ownership in which the shares of two or more owners are defined and cannot be divided. For example, two people may hold shares in a parcel of land of one third and two thirds respectively. If one party dies his or her share is disposed of according to his or her will and does not automatically transfer to the other owner

Tenure

Tenure is the system of holding land or property. It does not equate to ownership since, unlike goods, land cannot be possessed by one person in absolute ownership. For example, Freehold is the highest form of tenure because the rights of the Crown with regard to the use of the land are at a minimum

Theme

A data layer relating to a specific subject or topic of interest

Thematic Map

A map depicting one or more specific themes - eg land use, rainfall, land tenure

Tile

A part of a geographic data base that depicts a specific area of the earth’s surface. Many geographic data bases were in the past arranged in tiles or digital map sheets to enhance computer performance and easy of use. Increasingly geographical data bases are arranged in “seamless” form so that tiles become irrelevant

Topographic Map

A map showing the features on the earth’s surface in accuracy and details appropriate to the map scale. A standard topographic maps will show a number of different themes of data - eg contours, water features, cultural features (roads, buildings, etc)

Topographic Data Base

A data base in which data relating to the earth’s physical features on the earth’s surface is held and managed

Topology

The properties of and relationships between the lines, points and polygons that make up a geographical data set - the way in which geographical elements are linked together

Torrens System

The system of land titles registration invented in South Australia and now used throughout Australia and many other parts of the world. The system simplifies the registration of land dealings and guarantees the Title of a land owner.

Transfer

Refers to the transfer of the Certificate of Title from one owner to another as a result an agreement or the sale of the land or property included in the Title

Transform

The process of changing the scale, projection or orientation of geographical objects

VCL - Vacant Crown Land

Crown Land currently not being used or reserved for any future purpose

Vector Data

Positional data in the form of coordinates of the ends of line segments, points, text position, etc

WGS84 - World Geodetic System 1984

World Geodetic System 1984 Geocentric Datum used by GPS systems. In terms of position, WGS84 is equivalent to GDA94