Modern Cadastral Systems:Structure and Resilience with Reference to Ukraine
Time: Wed 2026-06-10 14.00
Location: Sahara, Teknikringen 10B, Stockholm
Video link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/66686417355
Language: English
Subject area: Real Estate and Construction Management
Doctoral student: Andrii Kozikov , Lantmäteri – fastighetsvetenskap och geodesi
Opponent: Associate Professor/Senior lecturer Helena Bohman, Malmö University
Supervisor: Professor Annina H. Persson, Lantmäteri – fastighetsvetenskap och geodesi; Professor Jenny Paulsson, Lantmäteri – fastighetsvetenskap och geodesi
QC 20260520
Abstract
This dissertation examines the structure, functionality, and resilience ofcadastral systems (CS) as a core component of land administration systems(LAS), with a particular focus on Ukraine under conditions of institutionalstress and armed conflict. Efficient and secure land administration is essentialfor ensuring property rights, supporting economic development, andmaintaining social stability. However, the relationship between the structuralorganization of cadastral systems and their performance under crisisconditions remains insufficiently understood.
The study adopts a qualitative research design combining legal analysis,literature review, and systems theory. It conceptualizes cadastral systems associo-technical structures composed of juridical, technical, organizational, andfinancial aspects. The research is structured around two main objectives: (1) toanalyze and compare cadastral systems in selected European countries(England and Wales, France, and Sweden) in order to identify features of aresilient model suitable for Ukraine, and (2) to assess how the Ukrainian landadministration system has adapted to the challenges of martial law since 2022.
The first part of the thesis applies a comparative law and systems-basedapproach to examine how different legal traditions and institutionalarrangements shape cadastral design and performance. The findingsdemonstrate that system resilience depends not on legal tradition alone but onthe degree of integration and coherence among legal frameworks, technicalsolutions, institutional coordination, and financial mechanisms.Fragmentation between cadastral and land registration systems is identified asa key limitation in Ukraine.
The second part analyzes Ukraine as a case of land administration under activeconflict, using a resilience framework that emphasizes institutionaladaptability and risk management. The study identifies several operationalresponses, including emergency legal measures, increased reliance on digitaland remote tools, and adjustments to administrative procedures to maintaincore functions despite war-related disruptions. These measures illustrate thesystem’s capacity to absorb shocks and adapt, while also revealingvulnerabilities related to data security, legal fragmentation, and institutional coordination.
The thesis contributes to the field by integrating systems approach withresilience analysis, offering a comprehensive framework for evaluatingcadastral systems under both stable and crisis conditions. It provides practicalrecommendations for strengthening the Ukrainian cadastral system, includingimproved interoperability, legal harmonization, and development of secure,resilient digital infrastructures. More broadly, the study highlights theimportance of designing land administration systems that can maintainfunctionality, protect property rights, and support recovery in times of crisis.