Information regarding the size of a land parcel can affect almost everything related to it, from its valuation to taxation matters and regulatory compliance. That information is typically available in the owner’s records, though updating it with more recent data is also a good idea.
In this article, Tanah Sewa explains the essentials of measuring land size. You’ll learn why accurate measurements are critical, what modern tools are used to gather measurements, and what the typical measuring process looks like.
Let’s get started!
Why Accurate Measurements Matter
Of all the concerns that come with buying or renting land, measuring its size might not seem like the most critical. As such, it’s easier to rely on existing information regarding a land parcel’s size, such as those mentioned in its documentation.
Despite that, maintaining accurate measurements does indeed matter. That data can impact almost every aspect related to your land and how you plan to utilise it, such as:
1. Land Valuation
First and foremost, accurate measurements matter because they directly affect a land parcel’s valuation.
Simply put, the larger a plot of land is, the more it’s worth. The only way to ensure a fair price for the buyer, seller, or renter is to ensure that the land parcel’s size is accurate and precise.
2. Tax Obligations
Similarly, the size of a land parcel determines the tax obligations involved. The larger a piece of land, the more its owner will owe local authorities in tax yearly.
Accurate measurements are of concern to both sides of that transaction.
For instance, having inaccurate measurements of the land will result in under-taxation (a loss for local authorities) or over-taxation (a loss for the landowner).
3. Compliance
All stakeholders in the land business understand that plenty of rules and regulations dictate how a land parcel can be used. A vital element of that governance is the size of any land parcel in question.
That’s why knowing the exact size of a land area can affect its compliance with any local rules and regulations that govern it.
Having inaccurate measurements could complicate any operations or development that a landowner might have planned for that area.
4. Urban Planning Matters
Suppose you own a plot of land. Despite being privately held, city planners must factor its size into their activities when conducting urban planning around the area.
As such, an accurate measurement of all land parcels must exist to ensure proper planning. That way, they can use any available space as efficiently as possible to design the infrastructure and other assets that serve your land parcel, among others.
5. Operational Planning
Naturally, accurate land measurements also affect what happens on your land plot. Just like with urban planning, you’ll need those measurements when planning the operations that will take place.
For example, if you plan on conducting agricultural operations on your land, you must know its precise measurements to allocate space for your crops as efficiently as possible.
What Tools Are Used To Measure Land Size?
Historically, land size has been measured using a wide range of tools, from chains, ropes, and rods of predetermined lengths. As you can imagine, those ancient methods are now obsolete due to their lack of accuracy, labour-intensiveness, and other limitations.
These days, land surveyors can more accurately measure land size using technologies such as:
Global Positioning System (GPS) - which uses satellites to pinpoint a land parcel’s boundaries and measure its size.
Geographic Information System (GIS) - software which processes spatial data to analyse a land plot’s precise measurements.
Aerial/satellite imagery - taken from planes or satellites, which are then used to gather precise measurements on the ground.
Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) - which uses laser pulses to create 3D maps of an area. Those maps are highly detailed and include terrain information, including land size measurements.
Drone surveying - which combines technologies like aerial imagery and GPS mounted on a drone to quickly cover an area and gather data.
These and other high-tech solutions exist to measure land sizes with pinpoint accuracy. It’s up to the land owners and other stakeholders to determine which ones suit their needs the best.
The Land Measurement Process
While the motivation, tools, and methods might differ, the process of determining a land parcel’s size is generally the same and looks something like this:
Step 1: Set Boundaries
The process begins with clearly defining the boundaries of the land parcel being measured.
Step 2: Determine Length And Width
Next, the length and width of that clearly defined area are measured using one or more of the methods mentioned earlier.
Step 3: Calculate Area
The length and width data allow for the calculation of the land’s area. The common units of measurement used to express the land’s area are:
Acre
Hectare
Square Meter
Square Foot
Square Kilometre
Square Mile
Converting between those different units can be challenging, so here’s a quick table to help you understand their relationship.
Unit | Acre | Hectare | Square Meter | Square Foot | Square Kilometer | Square Mile |
Acre | 1 | 0.4047 | 4,046.86 | 43,560 | 0.00404686 | 0.0015625 |
Hectare | 2.4711 | 1 | 10,000 | 107,639.1 | 0.01 | 0.00386102 |
Square Meter | 0.0002471 | 0.0001 | 1 | 10.764 | 0.000001 | 0.000000386102 |
Square Foot | 0.000022957 | 0.0000092903 | 0.0929 | 1 | 0.0000000092903 | 0.000000003587 |
Square Kilometer | 247.105 | 100 | 1,000,000 | 10,763,910 | 1 | 0.386102 |
Square Mile | 640 | 258.999 | 2,589,988 | 27,878,400 | 2.58999 | 1 |
Step 4: Note Irregularities
Land areas aren’t always flat and open, making for easy measuring. Instead, many have irregular terrain, like those with natural features.
As such, the fourth step in this process is to measure those irregularities separately and add them to the total land area.
Step 5: Compare And Verify
The final step is to compare and verify the measured land area with other sources, such as official records. Doing so can confirm the accuracy of the entire process and identify errors that need to be addressed.
Learn More From Tanah Sewa
Correctly measuring the size of a land parcel is crucial, as that information impacts many different aspects, ranging from taxation matters to urban planning. That’s why it’s crucial to refer to existing records, but it's also worth measuring again to ensure they are accurate.
Modern methods for measuring land size include using Global Positioning System (GPS) data and drones that can quickly cover a land parcel to help determine its size.
Visit the blog at Tanah Sewa to learn more about these and other topics regarding buying, selling, renting and managing land!
Ray Hasbollah
Content Strategist
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