Situation Analysis Report (Including a Review of 1998 Survey Regulations) [S009]

This report discusses the current status of land surveyors regulations in Trinidad and Tobago.  It addresses the dissatisfaction of the profession in the significant areas where the 1996 Land Surveyors Act is silent; in the ambiguities and inconsistencies between the1996 Act and the 1998 Regulations; in the additional Regulations and Rules for cadastral surveys needed to reflect changes in surveying technology ; in the transitional measures to enable existing practitioners in various categories of land surveying to register are required

Recommended definitions of the major categories of land surveying are provided. Suggestions for some of the new regulations required for geodetic surveying, hydrographic surveying, photogrammetric surveying and  engineering surveying are outlined.  In the context of land surveyors regulations, the consultants propose to remove land management entirely from the categories of land surveying; but to propose best practice cadastral land surveying guidelines to promote good land management.  

See also: Immediate Needs of the Profession

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Geodesy Category Report [S005]

The report details the findings of the Geodesy consultant and gives the background and basis for the recommendations made in the geodesy category of land surveying.  Indicative costs for each recommendation have been prepared. The consultant found that most cadastral surveys are not related to any datum.  Although this approach deals with the short term need to register surveys it has the significant drawback that surveys cannot be related reliably to each other.  This has led to disputes and significant additional survey effort to resolve such disputes.  Philip, 1973 makes clear the defects of this approach.

The Report also observes that some surveyors are using the GPS (Global Positioning System).  Lands & Surveys have three receivers, some are being used by private surveyors (exact numbers have not been determined) and UWI (University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus) has two.  In the absence of a National GPS Network, the use of GPS is problematical.  Current practice is to use the existing geodetic control (Naparima 1955) and, in effect, compute a local transformation.  This involves ‘distorting’ the GPS observations to fit the existing control. 

To derive maximum benefit from the surveys carried out in Trinidad and Tobago it is essential that all surveys refer to the same realisation of the same datum.  The report recommends that this should be specifically included in the survey regulations.

See also:  Geodetic Survey Issues

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Cadastral Surveying Report [S002]

This report seeks to recommend changes which will ensure that cadastral surveying legislation and practice are appropriate for Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in view of the recent enactment, and anticipated proclamation, of the Land Adjudication Act, the Registration of Titles to Land Act and the Land Tribunal Act. It is also hoped that these regulations will strengthen the cadastral category of land surveying in Trinidad & Tobago especially in the private sector.

See also:  Cadastral Survey Issues

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Engineering Surveying Standard List [S008]

The list is intended to include every conceivable feature that may be encountered by an engineering surveyor on-site.   The list has been designed so that it can be used by client organisations as a request-sheet, by surveyors themselves as a site-check list and as a client-confirmation list.   The list should help to clarify the expectations of clients with regard to work they receive from a range of different surveyors.  Engineering surveyors will be able to either copy the list in its present form, or prepare their own “short-lists” from it. 

 

The Standard List is intended to be used as a reference schedule by:

(a)      The Engineering Surveyor whilst on-site (i.e. as a survey check list); and

(b)     The client organisation (as a specification request/delete list); or

(c)      The Engineering Surveyor (as a means of confirming the specification to the client organisation.

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Engineering Surveying Code of Best Practices(CBP) [S007]

The Code is a description of methodology and practice.  The purpose of this is largely to confirm methods that are already widely used.  However, there was a general welcome for the idea of a CBP from engineering surveyors as a base reference document for day-to-day use.  The CBP is intended to be a living document that evolves with the coming changes in technology.  It is very much hoped that engineering surveyors will inform the Land Surveying Board of suggested changes to the CBP so that, at regular intervals, the Board can issue revisions to it. 

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Engineering Surveying Report [S004]

The Report reviews the current position in Trinidad & Tobago with regard to engineering surveying in the context of the 1996 Land Surveyors Act and the 1998 Land Surveyors Regulations and comments on the effect of new technology, the appropriateness of current methodology and the requirements for registration of land surveyors. 

The Report also recognizes three types of engineering surveyor practising in T&T: 

a)      The registered (licensed) surveyors who have either obtained a degree at UWI or have been “grandfathered” into the licensed / registered fold.

b)      The ex-JD people who will (by virtue of the date at which John Donaldson Institue ceased to offer such courses) be at least in their late 30’s and more likely to be in their mid-40s. 

c)      Other engineering surveyors (perhaps up to 50) who should be considered as technicians. 

It was not possible to verify the range of, for example, Total Station instrumentation in T&T, but from talking to 15 practising surveyors (in the field of engineering surveying) the consultant came to the conclusion that ownership of, and knowledge of, modern equipment and CAD systems (mainly Autocad) is widespread.

  See also:  Engineering Survey Issues

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Photogrammetric Category Report [S001]

The scope of the photogrammetric category report includes recommendations on Photogrammetric data capture instruments; Revision of the topographic database and the perspective from interviews with photogrammetrists within Trinidad & Tobago

Currently no revision is being carried out to change intelligence data collected. As the current working photography was taken in 1994, its currency is dated. Revision will therefore become a major aspect of the work following receipt of the topographic data during the next year.  Options for revision could include, stereo data capture, mono-plotting, and/or graphic survey techniques.

  See also:  Photogrammetric Survey Issues

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Hydrography Category Report [S003]

The Report reviews changes in hydrographic surveying technology and methodologies currently being used within Trinidad and Tobago and makes recommendations on how they may be accommodated within the 1996 Land Surveyors Act and reflected in the revised Land Surveyors Regulations and Rules.

It recognizes that Hydrographic surveying has gone through fundamental changes in measurement technology within the last ten years.  Multibeam acoustic and airborne laser systems now provide almost total seafloor coverage. The capability to position the data precisely in the horizontal plane has been increased enormously by the availability of satellite positioning systems, particularly when augmented by differential techniques.  In the offshore industry, undersea positioning using hydro-acoustic methods allow great precision to be achieved.

Offshore it is clear that WGS 84 or its internationally respected realisation ITRF (International Terrestrial Reference Frame) is accepted as the standard.  The international boundary with Venezuela used PSAD 1956. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries continues to offer its “cadastre” of offshore exploration and production licences in the Trinidad 1903 system.  To change these accepted practices would cause only further confusion, and so the Report recommends that a definitive statement be issued defining the relationships between all systems.

  See also:  Hydrographic Survey Issues

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Amendments to the Land Surveyors Act [S010]

The consultancy revealed that the Land Surveyors Act, 1996 requires a number of amendments.  This has been produced as a word processed document with all proposed amendments high-lighted.  Principal proposed amendments are:

·        Change of meaning of “TTLS” to becomes Trinidad and Tobago Licensed Surveyor rather than TT Land Surveyor.

·        Wherever the words surveyor or surveying appear they are now prefaced by land.  Surveyor and Surveying definitions removed

·        Definitions of engineering surveying, geodetic surveying, hydrographic surveying and photogrammetric surveying.  Expansion of definitions to include “advice” as well as process.

·        More recognition of the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago

·        Definition of terms and conditions of the Land Survey Board Registrar-Secretary

·        Reduction of detail about photogrammetric surveying (Some Act sub-sections are moved to the Regulations)

·        Land Survey Board member cannot simultaneously be member of Disciplinary Committee.

·        Offences should be limited to cadastral surveying

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Revised Land Survey Regulations [S011]

Since the LUPAP terms of reference were produced the first set of regulations of the Land Surveyors Act 1996 were  produced in 1998.  These 1998 regulations are the basis for the proposed Land Surveyors Regulations 2000.  These are produced as a document with the principal proposed changes from the 1998 regulations high-lighted:

·        Many additional definitions in the citation

·        Qualifications for categories expanded.

·        Transitional arrangements proposed

·        New Sections on:

·        National Datum – triangulation, GPS, and Height

·        Reference Documents – including Engineering Surveying Code of Best Practice produced under this consultancy.  Other references are to International Hydrographic Office (IHO) and Federation Internationale des Geometres (FIG) documentation

·        Control for geodetic and hydrographic surveys

·        Access to Lands and Surveys division Information

·        Cadastral surveys under other Acts

·        Capture of Photogrammetric Surveys

·        An additional pro-forma for references is proposed

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New Rules for Land Surveyors [S012]

This is a new document and is produced in the same style as the Act and Regulations to emphasise that after issue by the Land Survey Board these Rules must be adhered to.  The proposed rules have the following sections:

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