The genealogist trying to locate families, the surveyor or attorney researching old deeds, or the historian seeking data on land settlement will find Pennsylvania Land Records an indispensable aid. The land records of Pennsylvania are among the most complete in the nation, beginning in the 1680s. Pennsylvania Land Records not only catalogs, cross-references, and tells how to use the countless documents in the archive, but also takes readers through a concise history of settlement in the state. The guide explains how to use the many types of records, such as rent-rolls, ledgers of the receiver general's office, mortgage certificates, proof of settlement statements, and reports of the sale of town lots. In addition, the volume includes: cross-references to microfilm copies; maps of settlement; illustrations of typical documents; a glossary of technical terms; and numerous bibliographies on related topics.

Prepared under the auspices of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), this book is designed both as a practical handbook for use by land administrators and managers, and as a reference for trainees. The authors take a broad approach beginning with a discussion of the different types of cadastral surveys--those concerned with the extent, value, and ownership of land. They continue with sections on surveying, the handling of data, and the economics and management of land information systems. The book is aimed especially at the developing world, where resources available to acquire and manage land information may be limited.

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DATA STRUCTURES FOR THEMATIC MAPS DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELS DATA INPUT, VERIFICATION, STORAGE, AND OUTPUT METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS AND SPATIAL MODELLING DATA QUALITY, ERRORS, AND NATURAL VARIATION METHODS OF SPATIAL INTERPOLATION.

This book highlights the latest improvements in cadastre with examples and case studies from various parts of the world. Authors from different continents, in association with national and international organizations and societies, present the most comprehensive forum to date for cadastre, offering a broad overview of land administration and contemporary perspectives on current research and developments, including surveying, land management, remote sensing and geo-information sciences. Cadastre is a universal concept and is defined as “the work of officially mapping and systemically registering the areas, borders and values of all kinds of land and property”. It is normally a parcel-based and up-to-date land information system containing a record of interests in land with rights, restrictions and responsibilities. It may be established for fiscal and legal purposes, to assist in management for better planning and other administrative purposes, and to enable sustainable development and environmental protection. As such, “cadastre” is an important public inventory documenting the records of ownership, bordering and responsibility regarding the land with “title deeds” to parcels and answering the questions of “whose land, where and how much”. The materials included in the book can support courses at universities and related training institutions worldwide, and will greatly improve readers’ understanding of the scholarly fields involved in cadastre: land registration and management, surveying and mapping, and geo-information management, land governance, land taxation and public administration etc.

Land, as a fundamental resource in regional development, provides major opportunities for farming, housing, urban planning, and financing. In order to meet the requirements of the new era, every state has developed and implemented a series of policies according to its national specificities and to the international regulations and trends. Geospatial Technologies for Effective Land Governance is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of the use of GNSS, remote sensing, and GIS. While highlighting topics such as crop management, multispectral images, and irrigation, this publication explores land administration, encompassing both cadastral systems and land registration, as well as the methods of land governance strategies. This book is ideally designed for researchers, agricultural professionals, engineers, environmentalists, land developers, educators, students, and policymakers seeking current research on land and land-based conflicts in urban and rural communities.

From the bestselling author Simon Winchester, a human history of land around the world: who mapped it, owned it, stole it, cared for it, fought for it and gave it back.

The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four agencies administer 608.9 million acres of this land: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS) in the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Forest Service (FS) in the Department of Agriculture. Most of these lands are in the West and Alaska. In addition, the Department of Defense administers 14.4 million acres in the United States consisting of military bases, training ranges, and more. Numerous other agencies administer the remaining federal acreage. The lands administered by the four land agencies are managed for many purposes, primarily related to preservation, recreation, and development of natural resources. Yet each of these agencies has distinct responsibilities. The BLM manages 247.3 million acres of public land and administers about 700 million acres of federal subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM has a multiple-use, sustained-yield mandate that supports a variety of uses and programs, including energy development, recreation, grazing, wild horses and burros, and conservation. The FS manages 192.9 million acres also for multiple uses and sustained yields of various products and services, including timber harvesting, recreation, grazing, watershed protection, and fish and wildlife habitats. Most of the FS lands are designated national forests. Wildfire protection is increasingly important for both agencies. The FWS manages 89.1 million acres of the total, primarily to conserve and protect animals and plants. The National Wildlife Refuge System includes wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, and wildlife coordination units. The NPS manages 79.6 million acres in 401 diverse units to conserve lands and resources and make them available for public use. Activities that harvest or remove resources generally are prohibited. Federal land ownership is concentrated in the West. Specifically, 61.2% of Alaska is federally owned, as is 46.9% of the 11 coterminous western states. By contrast, the federal government owns 4.0% of lands in the other states. This western concentration has contributed to a higher degree of controversy over land ownership and use in that part of the country. Throughout America's history, federal land laws have reflected two visions: keeping some lands in federal ownership while disposing of others. From the earliest days, there has been conflict between these two visions. During the 19th century, many laws encouraged settlement of the West through federal land disposal. Mostly in the 20th century, emphasis shifted to retention of federal lands. Congress has provided varying land acquisition and disposal authorities to the agencies, ranging from restricted to broad. As a result of acquisitions and disposals, federal land ownership by the five agencies has declined by 23.5 million acres since 1990, from 646.9 million acres to 623.3 million acres. Much of the decline is attributable to BLM land disposals in Alaska and also reductions in DOD land. Numerous issues affecting federal land management are before Congress. They include the extent of federal ownership, and whether to decrease, maintain, or increase the amount of federal holdings; the condition of currently owned federal infrastructure and lands, and the priority of their maintenance versus new acquisitions; the optimal balance between land use and protection, and whether federal lands should be managed primarily to benefit the nation as a whole or instead to benefit the localities and states; and border control on federal lands along the southwest border.