This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
September 25, 2019
Experts warn that new technologies used to map land in developing nations can further marginalize vulnerable people if not implemented carefully.
From Kenya to the Philippines, authorities are using satellite imagery, drones, GPS navigation systems, and artificial intelligence to map customary lands, fix boundaries, and modernize land records.
However, this process may not prioritize the needs of communities, fail to secure data, or use it to evict or harm vulnerable people, said Serene Ho, a researcher at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
"There are many benefits to using technology, but we can get distracted by how cool the technology is, and not talk enough about what could go wrong," she said.
According to Cadasta Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit that develops digital tools to document land data, about 70% of land in developing nations is undocumented, exposing more than a quarter of the world's population to conflict and evictions.
"The data itself is neutral, and is only as good as the questions you ask of it. So how it is used, or even if it is released depends on who controls it," said Katie Pickett, a data specialist at Cadasta.
"In order for the data to have meaning, people should trust it. That means they have to agree to its collection, be adequately represented in the process, and be able to verify it," she added.
Jaap Zevenbergen, professor of land administration and management at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, noted that even in urban areas, people are vulnerable to data misuse from aerial mapping.
"If the mapping shows informal settlements on a floodplain, that can be an opportunity for harassment, a shakedown or an eviction by authorities," he said.
