Govt to expand land surveying capacity with two more stations

Government is planning to install two more Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) to expand land surveying capacity, according to the National Land Authority (NLA). A CORS station is an installed facility equipped with technology that enables land surveyors to use GPS with very high accuracy when measuring land. ALSO READ: Land surveying faces backlog of over 50,000 pending applications More than 2,000 land-related applications or files are submitted every day for processing. From May 25 to June 12, the land authority's technical team is conducting a nationwide field inspection exercise covering 611 private land surveyors across the country to assess various challenges. The initiative aims to evaluate the quality, accuracy and professionalism of surveying services provided to citizens, ensure compliance with established standards, and strengthen access to reliable surveyed data for land administration and development activities. In parallel, technical teams are inspecting all 10 Continuously Operating Reference Stations to verify their maintenance, functionality and operational efficiency. These stations are a critical component of Rwanda’s geospatial infrastructure, providing high-precision reference data required for accurate surveying, mapping and land management. ALSO READ: Govt to resolve land demarcation issues by 2027 By evaluating the performance of private land surveyors and the condition of CORS infrastructure, the land authority said it is reinforcing its commitment to improving service delivery, enhancing data quality and ensuring that citizens and stakeholders benefit from accurate, reliable and accessible geospatial information. “For one Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network, the estimated installation cost is approximately Rwf150 million,” Grace Nishimwe, NLA's Director General and Chief Registrar of Land Titles, said. “The current network of 10 CORS stations covers the entire country and provides nationwide access to high-precision positioning services, enabling surveyors and other geospatial professionals to achieve centimetre-level accuracy in their work.” ALSO READ: Boundary errors, land disputes targeted in Rwf 2.2bn plan However, Nishimwe said that in order to enhance accuracy, reliability, redundancy and service availability, especially as demand for geospatial services continues to grow, plans are underway to establish two additional CORS stations in the near future. “This expansion will further strengthen Rwanda’s geodetic infrastructure and support land administration, engineering, construction and infrastructure development projects,” she said. The increase in stations is accompanied by efforts to certify more land surveyors. Rwanda currently has 611 certified land surveyors. They undertake land subdivision, boundary correction, first registration, condominium surveys, engineering surveying, topographic surveying, geodetic surveying and other activities that support the land registry and national development. “While the current number of certified land surveyors has significantly contributed to service delivery, demand for surveying and geospatial services continues to grow alongside Rwanda’s rapid development,” Nishimwe explained. “In collaboration with Rwanda Organisation of Land Surveyors, we continue to certify new professionals, publish the list of licensed surveyors and support the progression of young graduates into professional practice.” She said the move not only increases the number of qualified surveyors in the country but also creates employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young professionals in the field. New law to crack down on misconduct Professional misconduct is not tolerated, Nishimwe noted. “Depending on the severity of the violation, land surveyors may face administrative sanctions, suspension of their licences, mandatory corrective measures, or revocation of their licences in serious or repeated cases. These measures help maintain professional standards,” she said. ALSO READ: Kigali, Bugesera, Nyagatare, and Musanze top list of land dispute hotspots While existing instructions guide surveyors, she said a law is needed to provide stronger legal authority to enforce professional standards, regulate licensing and discipline, and protect the public interest. “We are also developing a law regulating the surveying profession to enhance governance, professionalism and accountability.” More reforms in the pipeline Nishimwe said the NLA has produced and published the cadastral surveying manual and instructions on cadastral surveying to strengthen standards, consistency and quality in surveying practices. In addition, the National Geospatial Standards will be published i this month to provide a harmonised framework for geospatial data management and sharing. National Geospatial Standards are officially defined rules and technical guidelines that a country uses to ensure that all geographic and spatial data (maps, coordinates, land information, satellite data, etc.) are accurate, consistent, compatible and reliable across all institutions. “We are also planning to establish a National Geoid Model, which will improve the accuracy of elevation measurements and support engineering, construction and infrastructure development projects.” A National Geoid Model is the national standard that tells surveyors and engineers how high or low the land is above mean sea level in a precise and consistent way. Other key reforms, she added, include expanding geodetic infrastructure, promoting modern surveying technologies, strengthening quality assurance and enhancing professional training and certification systems. “Rwanda’s surveying sector has made significant progress, but continued investment in human capacity, technology, infrastructure and professional standards remains essential to support the country’s rapid development and growing demand for geospatial services,” she added.

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Govt to expand land surveying capacity with two more stations