The Land Administration Domain and Social Tenure Domain Models

The Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) and the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) are the backbone of sustainable, technology-driven land governance. These models support efforts towards poverty reduction and social equity by promoting transparency, inclusiveness and interoperability in land administration.

Developing the Land Administration Domain Model

In many countries, responsibilities for land tenure, land value, and land use are distributed across multiple public authorities. LADM ensures that land administration information is reliable, up to date, and easily exchangeable between all parties. This strengthens public and private land management and supports the development of sustainable information infrastructures. The LADM is ISO standard 19152 and is a common language for describing land administration components. The first edition of LADM was completed in 2012.

A 5-step standard

The ISO Technical Committee 211 (ISO/TC 211) approved the next generation of LADM in 2019. LADM became a 5-part standard:

1. Generic conceptual model
2. Land registration
3. Marine georegulation
4. Valuation information
5. Spatial plan information

Global impact of LADM

LADM inspired the creation of country profiles. These profiles are national adaptations of the model that reflect local legal, institutional, and spatial conditions. More than 50 countries have developed their country profile. Several of these countries have already implemented these profiles in their land information systems. These country-specific applications demonstrate LADM is a flexible basis for collaboration in land administration.

Recording informal land tenure with STDM

STDM is a specialization of LADM. It was developed by the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN). STDM records non-formal land tenure. It captures relationships that are often excluded from formal systems, such as occupancy customary rights, occupancy rights, squatting, nomadic or pastoral rights, shared or communal rights, et cetera. It also provides a more inclusive and pro-poor approach to land information management than LADM.

Projects

Kadaster applies the LADM in international consultancy and capacity-building projects. These projects demonstrate how LADM supports the design of interoperable, transparent and sustainable land information systems. 

Examples include:

• Read about future-proof land administration in Jordan on the page Jordan: Realizing future-proof land administration.
• Read about supporting Indigenous land rights in Colombia in the article Supporting Indigenous Land Rights at Global Forums in Colombia
• Read the publication The new, LADM inspired, data model of the Dutch cadastral map

Kadaster advances the LADM and STDM

We take a leading role in advancing the development of LADM in close collaboration with:

• TU Delft
• ITC (University of Twente)
• ISO/TC 211
• Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)

We also work with the UN-Habitat Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) to promote and enhance application of the STDM.

More information

• Do you want to read more about LADM, STDM and their applications? Visit the page Land Administration Domain Model on OICRF.org.
• Contact us via our online contact form.