PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Kadaster Department will soon launch a new innovation in the use of technology to improve its functioning when its ICAD System goes live within short.
The innovation in technology will result in increased accuracy, improved productivity and efficiency and will allow attorneys and Notary Publics to access, request and receive certificates or information on land sales and transfers from the comfort of their offices.
The new system will replace the existing CADSIS System that has been in use for almost two decades on St. Maarten and was a product of Dutch counterparts in The Hague. ICAD was designed by ICT Labs in Curacao and can compile comprehensive reports on every subject relating to the sale or transfer of a parcel of land and send this information directly to notaries and attorneys.
Minister with responsibility for the Kadaster Department the honourable Perry Geerlings received a presentation from ICT Labs Software Engineer Rademier Streder during a courtesy visit to the Kadaster department in Philipsburg on Friday. During the visit, Geerlings told the team at the Kadaster of his fond memories of the department during his seven years as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kadaster. He had actually been instrumental in introducing the soon phased out CADSIS System, which at the time served to improve the department. With the advances in technology and the increased demand for service from the Kadaster Department Minister Geerlings says that the innovations are indeed a welcomed improvement. He admonished the Kadaster Management to ensure the full training and upgrade of the staff with complete certification, which he said, can be useful for them in their future career. He also encouraged the Management Team to work diligently on improving “the high standard required for customer service to, for example, the Notaries who often need more details to be included in Certificates issued by the Kadaster.”
Once live tests of the ICAD System are successful, the intention is to complete the transfer data from the old CADSIS system to the new system. When this is phase is completed the Kadaster will be able to provide member access with different levels of authorisation to Notary Publics and Attorneys. Once they have an account they will be able to track monthly and yearly land transactions based on sales, purchases, seizures and can review easements, get information on mortgages, and apartment splits. The system will be able to make reports on any subject relating to land transactions and produce invoices for electronic payment for services.
The system has a user-friendly dashboard, is entirely web-based and can connect to ARCEUS, which is a Global Information System application for visualisation of land parcels. It also allows remote and secure management and authorisation of documents by the Mortgage Custodian for the Kadaster who will now be able to sign papers electronically. Minister Geerlings said he was especially proud of the fact that the system is now entirely owned by St. Maarten and that the Kadaster can securely manage and extend access to the public who wishes to access specific information.
The secure system also comes with different levels of access for administrators within the Kadaster Department and a full report of all user transactions. Geerlings also received a presentation by a representative of Florida Level & Transit Co. John Mc Kay on the Leica Geosystems that is being used for Land Survey on St. Maarten and Saba. Mc Kay frequently visits the Kadaster Department in St. Maarten as part of the support provided by Florida Level & Transit Co who is the dealer of the Leica Geosystems for Florida and the Caribbean.
During his latest visit, he performed an evaluation on the way the Kadaster works in the field. He is working with the department to improve its use of the Leica Geosystems to take advantage of advances in the technology.
He told Minister Geerlings that by taking advantage of new Satellite Constellations surveyors can “push the boundaries” and perform surveys in more difficult areas. Once fully updated the Kadaster will be able to transmit data between the office and field surveyors in real time, which will eliminate the need for returning to the office to complete daily tasks and will allow immediate correction of any discrepancies concerning land survey. The Kadaster Department will soon launch a website that will be fully interactive and be accessible by Utility Company NV GEBE who will be able to use it for their fieldwork. The improved Leica Geosystem is accurate up to 1 millimetre and can only be accessed through a secure login.
Minister Geerlings said he along with colleague Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (VROMI) Miklos Giterson would continue to monitor the progress in improving the quality of work and service at the Kadaster.
