Mapping is
the ultimate aim of surveying. By its nature, surveying captures the earth
surface and all features thereon and graphically represents them on a map. By so
doing, surveying and mapping expose a geographical location so much that
detailed information about the location can be gleaned from the map without
physically visiting the site. The survey coordination act was therefore
formulated as a government legal tool for regulating and controlling the
practice of surveying for the benefit of the state.
The survey
coordination act is necessary for reasons which are enshrined in the objectives
of the act. Firstly, all survey operations in the country should be coordinated.
Otherwise the situation would be likened to a lawless society where everyone
behaves as he deems fit. Without coordination there would be confusion,
disorganization and disregard for constituted authorities.
Secondly,
the act ensures that all survey operations carried out in the country are
executed to acceptable specifications. The surveyors-general give instructions
that guide the surveys according to standard procedures.
Thirdly,
unnecessary duplication of efforts and waste of funds are avoided. The survey
coordination act ensures that the surveyors-general have knowledge of all
survey project being executed in their states. By this knowledge the surveyors-general
can prevent duplication of efforts and waste of funds.
Moreover,
the act is necessary because it ensures that originals and copies of survey
products are deposited in the surveyors-general’s office. Thus, copies of
survey products can be made available to public users.
In order to
achieve the above objectives, the survey coordination act empowers the
surveyor-general to legally regulate and control all survey projects carried
out in the state. Specifically, the act requires that no survey work shall be
carried out in the state unless the surveyor-general has given his consent in
writing. The person responsible for carrying out the survey is required to give
the surveyor-general written notice not less than three months before the work
commences. The surveyor-general, on receiving the notice, shall give a counter
notice to the person. In the counter notice, the surveyor-general shall give
instructions to the effect of carrying out the survey according to
specifications. The surveyor-general shall demand for copies of maps, plans,
photographs, field observation notes and computations made for the purpose of
carrying out the survey work. Moreover, all survey monuments erected in the
course of the survey work shall become the property of the state and the
surveyor-general may use them for the purpose of his office as he thinks fit.
Thus, it can
be argued that the survey coordination act is the biggest legal instrument of
the surveyor-general. By the act, the surveyor-general has legal power to
consent to or reject an application to carry out a survey in any part of the
state. As mentioned above, surveying and mapping by their nature make bare on
paper the land use land cover of a geographical location. Physically
inaccessible areas can be exposed by mapping through remote sensing. Without
the act, natural and cultural resources in a location would be exposed to
illegal exploitation.
Moreover,
the act empowers the surveyor-general to enforce adherence to specifications
during the course of any survey work. At the beginning of the project the
surveyor-general, through a counter notice, outlines specifications that should
be followed, lists instructions that should be carried out, and demands for
field books, computation sheets and survey monuments that indicate that the
work was done accordingly. Thus, by the legal instrument of the act, the surveyor-general
enforces survey standards.
Furthermore,
the act gives power to the surveyor-general to demand for and collect original
and copies of the survey products, including details of all monuments erected
during the survey. As such, the surveyor-general has documentary evidence of
all surveys carried out within the state, which he may use to the benefit of
his office and make available to other users.
In
conclusion, the survey coordination act is an essential legal tool for
regulating and controlling survey works within a state. The act empowers the
surveyor-general, making him the supervisor and coordinator of all surveys in
his jurisdiction, and allowing him to have copies of all survey documents used
and produced in the course of the survey. The act is therefore the biggest
legal instrument of the surveyor-general as he uses it for the purposes of his
office and the benefit of the state.
DISCLAIMER: This material
is only an attempt to answer an examination question, though written from a
background of solid knowledge and practical experience in Surveying and
Geoinformatics. It has not gone through peer review. Therefore, all views and
opinions expressed therein remain the responsibility of the author and do not
necessarily represent that of any institution. Feedback on corrections
and constructive criticisms are welcome. Thank you.
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