What is Legal Mapping?
Legal Mapping is a “loose term” that defines all types of mapping prepared for legal or Kwasi-legal purposes. Legal mapping supports the management of title deeds, planning schemes and maps, easements, etc. This service enables our client to identify gaps and aids in legal research and compliance efforts effectively.
What's included in a legal mapping survey?
- High level ownership research and mapping presentation,
- Overlaying Zoning and other planning information over ownership maps,
- Overlaying ownership boundaries onto planning approval maps,
- Mapping of various rights and restrictions to ownership and land use (CPO’s Easements, Rights of Way, Leases, Licences etc),
- Preparation of maps for contracts and agreements – land transfer / sale agreements, land development agreements, license agreements, etc,
- Survey and mapping of Legal Boundaries for various purposes, including Ground Truth Surveys, dispute resolution, adverse possession claims, boundary rectifications, property transfer and registration etc.,
- Preparation of land registry compliant maps for land transfer and registration,
- Preparation of land registry compliant maps for multi-story registration and transfers,
- Declarations of Identity of land or property, together with associated mapping to clarify property rights and restrictions and to facilitate financing, sales and / or transfers.
Murphy Geospatial Legal Mapping Experience
- We have extensive experience in the above non-exhaustive list, having worked in all sectors from small property owners to large corporate developments in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors,
- Our experience in large land conversion projects (commercial / industrial and residential) has given us a good understanding of the processes in land and property development, including feasibility investigations, planning, infrastructure installation, top-structure construction, marketing, sales, transfers, and registration,
- Our technical and land-legal knowledge puts us in the unique position of being able to communicate with all the role players, from owners and development executives to technical professionals, local authorities, utility companies and legal professionals,
- We have worked alongside town and regional planners and urban design experts in the conception, preparation and implementation of development schemes, to the sale and registration of the final units, be they houses, apartments, offices, shopping centres, distribution warehouses or factories.
- Murphy Geospatial makes use of advanced geospatial and geographic information technology including inter-alia laser scanners, UAV (drone) based photography, point cloud processing and interrogation, sub-surface and underwater surveying equipment (GPR, echo-sounding equipment etc), mobile mapping technology, and has the capacity to process a wide range of data from multiple sources into valuable mapping and geospatial information,
- The above technologies operate alongside or together with the Legal Mapping processes to provide a complete set of geospatial information relevant to the project,
- This geospatial information and mapping can be managed by Murphy Geospatial and up-to-date information presented to the client via our Geospatial Portal at all stages of a development project.
What problems can Legal Mapping solve?
- Limited access to legal mapping advice and solutions that arise at unexpected moments in the development process,
- Survey of the boundaries of the extents of the development at an appropriate time to identify issues that can stall a development at crucial times,
- Problems that can potentially delay a project, particularly during the implementation phase when cash flow is externally dependant,
- Inaccuracies and misidentification of topographic and boundary lines in OSI and PRAI mapping,
- “Invisible” boundaries that are inaccessible because they lie behind building walls and between adjacent buildings in a densely developed urban context are surveyed after these are “made visible” by the owner / developer,
- Distortions in communication due to limited understanding of an external project manager of legal mapping requirements and procedures resulting in delays,
- Delays in the production of sales, transfer and registration maps when a phase of the development goes to the market,
What are the benefits of our Legal Mapping Services?
- Multiple Survey and Mapping solutions from one source with easy to access output systems,
- 40+ years in business and 25+ years of experience in legal mapping and large-scale land conversion and development projects,
- Identification of legal mapping issues (that could prevent or stall a development) at or before the land is purchased,
- Innovative thinking in using advanced technology for legal mapping surveys and outputs,
- The use of rectified images (orthophotos) and ground-based photography to record the state and location of the boundary at the time of survey,
- The use of UAV technology to survey building boundaries that are inaccessible and / or invisible from the ground,
- The ability to communicate and work as part of a team of professionals,
- Sound advice on legal mapping matters. An experienced Legal Mapping expert can foresee and advise on solutions to problems that can potentially delay a project, particularly during the implementation phase when cash flow is externally dependant,
- Management of land bank status and accurate boundaries for the duration of the development, marketing and sales process,
- Prevention of small pieces of land between development phases being left in the ownership of the developer,
- Engaging directly with Murphy Geospatial enables clearer communication between client, solicitor and mapping expert without the distortion of understanding that can occur when using an external project manager,
- Quick turnaround of legal maps because all mapping information is easily accessible.
What can Legal Mapping be used for?
Property – Legal mapping in the property sector enhances clarity in land use, ensures compliance with regulations, reduces disputes, and improves decision-making for investments and development projects.
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