Cadastre Teaching CAD / GIS Geospatial - GIS

LADM implementation using INTERLIS - Colombia

The third week of June 2016 was given the INTERLIS Course, seen as a language and instrumentation to facilitate the implementation of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) In the land management environment of Colombia.

The course was developed in two stages, one at a basic / theoretical level with a large group of different institutions linked to territorial management, seeking to understand what INTERLIS is, the use of developed applications, how it can be used and results of its application in Land Administration in Central / Eastern European Countries; The second day of the course is more practical with a team of smaller thematic specialists, who has been participating in the construction of the LADM model of Colombia.

An interesting challenge, bearing in mind that the facilitator of the Course is Michael Germann, No less one of the LADM speakers based at INTERLIS at a recent FIG event, along with Jürg Kaufmann, Daniel Steudler, Christiaan Lemmen, Peter Van Oosterom and Kees de Zeeuw. And I say challenge, because characters of this level often have limitations at the time of exposing smoked issues before common and current audiences in the Latin American context.

What is INTERLIS?

It is a conceptual schema language (Conceptual Schema Language - CSL), which is used to describe models, although it can be used for any system, it is specialized in geospatial models, since it includes several types of geometries. It should be noted that INTERLIS is not software, but a platform-independent language neutral, which also includes a data transfer format that is derived directly from the model; INTERLIS is also not a programming language, although it has its own syntax to describe models precisely, including the definition of constraints (constraints).

LADM INTERLIS COLOMBIA

The data transfer format is the ITF (INTERLIS-1) or XTF (INTERLIS-2, an xML) derived, as already mentioned, from the data model using standardized rules. The strict division between modeling and transfer (Model driven approach) Is very interesting, because in the background it gives merits to the smoking of the LADM that once modeled the immediate question is And now what the hell do I do?

The background of INTERLIS is almost 30 years old, when in 1989 the Swiss began to venture into the use of computers under modern methods. Although they used the computer for cadastre since the 70s, it is through the Project known as RAV (Reform of the Official Cadastre) to propose a proposal with a central idea based on freedom in the use of methods for cadastral work. It is obvious that the introduction of this principle implied the need to have a platform-independent solution for data description and storage, and that is how INTERLIS-1 was born in 1989. Its birth philosophy is valuable, with the precept of “ freedom in the use of methods”, because it promotes that each municipality, department, geographical region or institutional entity can use the tool that suits them, as long as they adhere to INTERLIS, total interoperability can be achieved. The pilot was at the beginning of the nineties, in 1993 the first official cadastral model was published; interesting if we consider that the Cadastre 1994 initiative began in 2014 and was finally published in 1998. LADM INTERLIS COLOMBIA

After the launch of the first official cadastral model, there are developments of the first tools such as the Compiler for the verification of the correct syntax of models, Translator to pass data from one model to another, and the Checker to validate XTF data against the model; INTERLIS-1998 was developed between 2006 and 2 and for that year the Checker with a free license is published. For 2007 INTERLIS becomes a national standard in Switzerland and for 2014 there are already 160 models of the national IDE, described with the standard, which among other generated the basis for the implementation of the new Cadastre of Restrictions of Public Law on Property , the realization of the 2014 Cadastre.

As a preliminary conclusion, INTERLIS is not a programming language, but rather a language of description and data transfer. Although it is written in UML, it has other data types such as data transfer and update that are already your own.

Advantages of INTERLIS

The main advantage is the “freedom of methods”. The support of the concepts of Cadastre 2014 is important, especially in terms of managing thematic independence with models by themes but within the same reference system; added to its flexibility to create data models in general, although it would be necessary to see if it resembles the Swiss army knife for modeling.

It is easily understood by IT experts and land administration specialists. It is understood that with the syntax and rules to derive the transfer format, it can be processed and validated by computer programs.

Other advantages assume that it can be easily implemented, although after looking at the 160 page manual… I must admit it takes at least a week's effort to see examples and try to build them. Of course, having a model built with a UML editor and later generating the code for an application or the physical model of the database is definitely getting ahead… if it's done right, of course.

The manual is in German, French and English. With the advantage that when it was adopted in Colombia, an effort has been made to release a version in Spanish, which is certainly in the process of improvement; We hope to be available for download soon at Www.interlis.ch.

Differences between INTERLIS-1, INTERLIS-2 and other languages

The 2 version of INTERLIS is object oriented, more flexible and supports more complex classes; Is compatible with the 1 version and already supports extensions, complex constraints and transfer via XML.

Compared to other protocols and languages, INTERLIS is more accurate than simple UML, although everything is based on this language. In addition, it is more specific in the geographical field due to the inclusion of different types of objects (points, lines, arcs, areas and surfaces). Compared to GML, it facilitates transactionality, which is not even in the LADM and for those of us who have tried to send WFS services using GML we understand the limitation. INTERLIS is now also part of the OGR / GDAL (2.0) library and XTF files can be viewed using QGIS. Other Open Source tools allow the generation of a database schema in PostgreSQL / PostGIS, the import of data to said schema and export to an XTF file (ili2pg). And of course there are many proprietary applications from the big boys, GEONIS for ArcGIS based on FME, GeosPro from Geomedia, INTERLIS for AutoCAD Map3D.

LADM INTERLIS COLOMBIA

As mentioned before, for the use of INTERLIS there are some important freeware licensing applications for data modeling and validation in the standard, such as Compiler, UML Editor and Checker.

The INTERLIS Compiler serves to validate the syntax of a model, the INTERLIS Checker allows to validate the compatibility of a data file with respect to a descriptive model, so to use it requires a model (.ili extension) and also a transfer file ( .itf or.xtf); It also requires executing the .cfg file extension for the configuration characteristics (where the requirements regarding minimum compliance with the model are defined). The UML Editor is run through the umleditor.jar, allowing you to edit INTERLIS schemas visually. For now it is only in French and German. The GUI is somewhat primitive compared to VisualParadigm or Enterprise Architect, however it is useful for the basics - and the best part is that it generates the model code with the correct syntax.

Application Methodology

The Course initially fulfilled the task that "geomatists should not be afraid of models", which implies that it is necessary to read. On the second day, work was done defining the Topics; in the case of the Swiss LADM profile,

The themes are used:

-Cadastre
-Floor cover
-Checkpoints
-Hydro-sanitary chains

In the case of the Colombian Model, a platanized equivalent was made, with the following themes:

-Cadastre
-Registry
-Ordenamiento Territorial
etc.

Sub-themes were then defined:

-Catastro Objects:
-Check Point
-Predio (includes land and construction)
-Administrative limits
- Cadastral zoning
- Homogeneous physical areas
-Economic areas
-Etc.

Finally, some rules of the current LADM Model were ordered ;, such as, if prepositions are going to be eliminated, if the classes will be plural… etc. It is suggested that the Topics be in Plural, while the classes in the singular. Thus, already on the fly, the model went like this:

TOPIC Control Points =

END control_points;

TOPIC Buildings =

! Limit Point

! Land, Construction, ...

END;

TOPIC Limits =

! Administrative divition

! Division Area Limit

END;

Then types, subtypes and rules are disaggregated; It seems complex, but it is not. With the variant that the Colombian model has its peculiarities, in two days it has been possible to build the INTERLIS model of the LADM built in the month of March. We Latin Americans definitely go around more, additionally because all the domains, types and subtypes have been included in the INTERLIS model; things that possibly disaggregate over time. See how simple the Dutch model is:

!! ———————————————————–
!!
!! ISO 19152 LADM country profile NL modelled with INTERLIS 2
!!
!! ———————————————————–
!! Revision history
!! ———————————————————–
!!
!! 03.02.2014 / mg: initial version
!! 17.11.2014 / mg: some syntax corrections
!!
!! ———————————————————–
!!
!! (C) Swiss Land Management (www.swisslm.ch)
!!
!! ———————————————————–

INTERLIS 2.3;

CONTRACTED MODEL LADM_NL (en)

AT “http://www.swisslm.ch/models”
VERSION “2014-02-03” =

   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED ISO_Base;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED ISO19107;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED ISO19111;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED ISO19115;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED ISO19156;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED LADM_Base;
   IMPORTS UNQUALIFIED LADM;

   DOMAIN
       STRUCTURE UnknownValueType =
      END UnknownValueType;

      CLASS NL_SpatialUnit (ABSTRACT) EXTENDS LADM.Spatial_Unit.LA_SpatialUnit =
         Dimension (EXTENDED): LADM.Spatial_Unit.LA_DimensionType;
         LandConsolidationInterest: LIST {0..5} OF UnknownValueType;
         PurchasePrice: Currency;
         Volume (EXTENDED): LADM.Spatial_Unit.LA_VolumeValue;
      END NL_SpatialUnit;

TOPIC LADM_NL =

      CLASS NL_Party EXTENDS LADM.Party.LA_Party =
         Name (EXTENDED): CharacterString;
         Role (EXTENDED): LADM.Party.LA_PartyRoleType;
      END NL_Party;

      CLASS NL_AdminSourceDocument EXTENDS LADM.Administrative.LA_AdministrativeSource =
         Claim: Currency;
         PurchasePrice: Currency;
      END NL_AdminSourceDocument;

      CLASS NL_RRR (ABSTRACT) EXTENDS LADM.Administrative.LA_AdministrativeSource =
         Description: CharacterString;
      END NL_RRR;

      CLASS NL_BAUnit EXTENDS LADM.Administrative.LA_BAUnit =
         Name (EXTENDED): CharacterString;
      END NL_BAUnit;

      CLASS NL_RealRight EXTENDS NL_RRR =
         TypePurchased: (other);
         TypeSold: (other);
      END NL_RealRight;

CLASS NL_Restriction EXTENDS NL_RRR =
END NL_Restriction;

      CLASS NL_Mortgage EXTENDS LADM.Administrative.LA_Mortgage =
         Description (EXTENDED): CharacterString;
      END NL_Mortgage;

CLASS NL_Parcel EXTENDS NL_SpatialUnit =
END NL_Parcel;

CLASS NL_BuildingUnit EXTENDS NL_SpatialUnit =
END NL_BuildingUnit;

      CLASS NL_Network EXTENDS LADM.Spatial_Unit.LA_LegalSpaceUtiliyNetwork =
         Dimension (EXTENDED): LADM.Spatial_Unit.LA_DimensionType;
         LandConsolidationInterest: LIST {0..5} OF CharacterStringListValue;
And so on until you find the END LADM_NL
LADM INTERLIS COLOMBIA

Entering into the internationalization of INTERLIS in the Latin American context seems to us an interesting challenge for the Agustín Codazzi Institute and the other institutions linked to the Land Administration in Colombia, not only because of the support itself that the Swiss Cooperation represents but also the specific weight of Colombian institutions in the South American context. I believe that a good adoption and extension of the model in the areas of Cadastre, link with the Property Registry, Territorial Planning and the Colombian Spatial Data Infrastructure will focus the gaze of countries beyond the southern cone.

INTERLIS will allow relative ease in the implementation of the Land Administration Domain Model (ISO 19152), at least in relation to interoperability, especially because it somewhat shortens the path of adoption of GML files as exchange formats, taking advantage of the checking tools , transfer and validation. You just have to imagine the potential, considering that Colombia with its new legislation is about to start a Multipurpose Cadastre sweep, which will require tools for data quality control from both private companies and certified professionals and about 1.100 municipalities that they will gradually enter irreversibly into a cycle of delegation of powers by the IGAC Cadastre or decentralized entities ... for which INTERLIS is highly functional.