The law establishing the Geodesists’ College has come into force, marking a pivotal moment for the entire industry. But what does this significant step mean for professionals in the field and for society as a whole? In the following lines, Bogdan Jinga, CEO of DTG, shares his personal perspective on the impact of this new law and its practical implications.

With extensive experience in the field, Bogdan has closely followed the transformations undergone by the profession of geodesy. From the old ANCPI authorization system to the new regulations, he offers us a unique perspective on the evolution of cadastral documentation and shares his vision for the future of this discipline.

So, here’s what Bogdan has to say about this new chapter in Romanian geodesy:

“I vividly remember the moment Professor Iohan Neuner announced, with contagious enthusiasm, the establishment of the Romanian Geodesists’ Order. Professor Neuner, then Dean of the Faculty of Geodesy and newly appointed Rector of UTCB, spoke proudly about our profession and the future of the OGR, an institution designed to support the exercise of a liberal and apolitical profession.

As an idealistic student, I was filled with hope for the future of our profession. I greatly admired Professor Neuner, who inspired and motivated me to become a consummate professional.

Over time, the OGR has disappeared, along with the appreciation for our profession. The comparison to other respected professions, such as notaries, architects, and lawyers, which Professor Neuner often mentioned, never came to fruition, and political influence in the world of cadastral surveying seems more prevalent than ever.

The dream of a united guild seems to be taking shape once again. The law establishing the Geodesists’ College represents a crucial step in rebuilding a profession that has suffered so much.

Law no. 267/2024 was promulgated on October 29, 2024. Is this law necessary? Do we need an institution that will play a role in ensuring adherence to professional standards, promoting ethics in the profession, and representing the interests of Romanian geodesists?

The answer is simple: the lack of a clear legal framework and a strong professional representation has allowed political interests to prevail over professional ones.

We are living in a time when ANCPI holds a monopoly on authorizations for individuals and legal entities in Romania, as well as a monopoly on systematic cadastral contracts. We are also witnessing a situation where competition is stifled and the quality of services suffers. Many of my colleagues are forced to seek work in other fields, and the number of students in geodesy has declined dramatically.

The contrast with a free and competitive market is evident. Imagine an agency that, instead of centralizing power, would facilitate fair and transparent access for all actors to important projects, such as systematic registration in the Integrated Cadastre and Land Registry System. Such an approach would stimulate innovation, improve service quality, and create a favorable environment for professional development. Unfortunately, the past has shown us that when a single entity holds so much power, the risk of abuse and favoritism towards certain actors is very high.

The new law establishing the Geodesists’ College is a giant leap forward for our profession. Through this law, a solid legal framework is created for the practice of geodesy and fair competition is promoted.

Why I believe OCPIs will be abolished

I am convinced that the days of the OCPIs as we know them are numbered. In the future, they will evolve into simple administrators of a vast GIS database that will centralize all cadastral information in the country. Their role will be reduced to maintaining and updating this database, while the responsibility for data accuracy will rest entirely with the executors (authorized individuals and legal entities).

I believe it is time to radically change the way the cadastral system works. Instead of having cadastral inspectors who verify and approve each document, we should transform them into partners of the executors, actively involved in the process of registration and entry into the Land Registry. This would eliminate bureaucracy and accelerate the entire process.

My vision for the future of cadastral surveying is one where technology plays a central role and bureaucracy is minimized. OCPIs should become simple digital platforms, and responsibility for data quality should be clearly assigned to each participant in the process.

Cadastre in Romania and the Radiography of Authorized Individuals by ANCPI

Before the digitalization of cadastral documents, obtaining a cadastral number was a bureaucratic ordeal. Imagine endless queues, folders filled with paperwork, and seemingly endless waiting times. But how has this process evolved over time? Let’s take a brief journey through time and discover the transformations that the cadastral documentation process and the individuals authorized by ANCPI have undergone.

In the late 1990s, between 1999 and 2000, the Romanian cadastral system was undergoing a transformation. Cadastral sketches were drawn on graph paper, and traditional topographic measurements were carried out: angular directions and inclined lengths were included in planimetric surveys, and creating cadastral documentation was a true engineering feat. Churches were in high demand, and coordinate inventories for monastery towers were the new currency among specialists. This was the period when the first cadastral numbers were assigned, but we neglected to open Land Registers.

Between 2006 and 2014, we witnessed the first, albeit tentative, steps towards the digitalization of the cadastre. Land boundaries and buildings were “captured” in .dxf format and stored on floppy disks, to be physically transported to the Cadastre Offices, now merged with the Real Estate Publicity Offices. Cadastral documentation was created in the national Stereo’70 projection system (the capital still retained the local Stereo’ Bucharest system), and thus we discovered the first overlaps (real and virtual) between neighboring plots.

Between 2014 and 2020, we witnessed a new stage in the evolution of the cadastre: the meeting between cadastre and geographic information systems (GIS). CPXML files appeared, and textual information was entered directly into the OCPI database in a centralized and standardized format. In parallel, we discovered the potential of European funds for modernizing the cadastre, but also an alarming reality signaled by Elena Udrea: the areas recorded in property titles exceeded the total area of the country. Bucharest also aligned with the national projection system, but discovering the exact boundary of the capital compared to Ilfov County revealed the complexity and challenges of this process. Even today, disputes over overlaps between documents created in different projection systems remind us of those early beginnings.

eTerra! The pandemic brought radical changes to the cadastral field. The disappearance of the physical file and the transition to online submission of documents, with electronic signatures, significantly simplified the process. The Epay.ancpi.ro platform registered over 1.5 million land registry extracts in the first 9 months of 2024, proving the efficiency of the new methods. ANCPI thus became probably the most digitalized public agency in Romania. Modern technologies have revolutionized the way cadastral work is carried out, and topographers, from experienced engineers, have become remote UAV pilots.

When will the last property in Romania be registered in the Land Registry?

We’ve witnessed firsthand how technology has transformed and streamlined cadastral work. The completion of the systematic/sporadic registration process for properties in Romania is closer than we think.

Given the clear trend towards digitalization and automation of topographic work, it’s evident that the ‘pizza slice’ (#CadastruSistematic) everyone desired 10 years ago is becoming smaller. More and more geodesists understand that we don’t need ‘junk food’ (#PNCCF) and are reorienting themselves towards the private sector.

Regardless of your field within the industry – whether you conduct topographic surveys, work on construction sites, practice engineering topography, collect data for GIS, or perform 3D scanning for BIM modeling – your work will be influenced by the Romanian College of Geodesists.  

This college will provide us with the necessary framework to develop professionally and take a more active role in society. I hope this law will contribute to:

• Increasing the prestige of the geodesy profession;
• Improving the quality of services provided;
• Attracting talented young people to the field of geodesy;
• Strengthening the role of geodesists in society;
• Promoting transparency in the awarding of contracts in the field.

In my view, Law 267/2024 represents a solid legal framework for the practice of geodesy. By aligning with European standards and encouraging investment in technology, this law not only standardizes requirements but also opens up new perspectives for the development of the sector. By stimulating competition and innovation, the law will ensure a higher quality standard of services provided.”