The government of Vietnam has received a gradually increasing number of complaints and disputes regarding land administration issues. Significant resources have been invested in related work, including data collection, policy reforms, and technology for land administration. However, there has been very little work directed to policy development for a data-sharing framework. This thesis argues for the development of an Spatial Data Infrastructure Land (SDI) by initially proposing a policy framework as the foundation for such an infrastructure.
The present research employs a multi-method approach with a case-study strategy to investigate the problems and issues in land administration, and the requirements for an SDI to support land administration at the provincial level in Vietnam. The thesis presents a case study based in Vinh Long, a southern province of Vietnam, and draws on this to propose an appropriate policy framework for a user-centric SDI to support land administration at the provincial level. The stakeholder consultations included in-depth interviews with central and local stakeholders, focus group discussions, and a survey by questionnaire of people at the grassroots level of land users.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1. Research background
1.2. Research problem
1.3. Research objectives
1.4. Research questions
1.5. Research design and thesis structure
Chapter 2: Research Methodology
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Research strategy
2.3. Research methods
2.3.1. Extended literature review
2.3.2. Qualitative research approach
2.3.3. Mixed-method approach
2.4. Case study strategy
2.5. Case study selection and fieldwork
2.5.1. Case-study selection criteria
2.5.2. Fieldwork
2.5.3. Identifying stakeholders for consultations
2.6. Introduction to case study
2.7. Data collection
2.7.1. Semi-structured interviews
2.7.2. Semi-structured FGDs
2.7.3. Questionnaires
2.8. Computer-aid data analysis
2.9. Ethical consideration
2.9.1. Informed consent
2.9.2. Privacy, confidentiality and anonymity
2.10. Chapter summary
Chapter 3: Literature Review on Spatial Data Infrastructures
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Spatial Data Infrastructure Theory
3.2.1. SDI concepts and definitions
3.2.2. SDI hierarchy
3.2.3. SDI components
3.2.4. SDI generations
3.3. Benefits of Spatial Data Infrastructures
3.3.1. SDI beneficiaries
3.3.2. SDI benefits
3.4. SDIs in Land administration
3.4.1. History of development of SDIs for land administration
3.4.2. Benefits of the SDIs to land administration
3.4.3. Spatially-enabled society
3.5. Development of an SDI Land in Vinh Long
3.5.1. Historical development of SDIs in Vietnam
3.5.2. Development of SDI Land components in Vinh Long
3.5.2.1. Datasets
3.5.2.2. User community
3.5.2.3. Policies
3.5.2.4. Standards
3.5.2.5. Technology
3.5.3. Challenges for development of an SDI Land in Vietnam
3.5.4. Opportunities for development of an SDI Land in Vietnam
3.6. Chapter summary
Chapter 4: Literature Review on Land Administration in Vietnam
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Land administration
4.2.1. Land administration functions
4.2.2. Land administration components
4.2.3. Land registration
4.2.4. Cadastre and cadastral survey and mapping
4.2.5. Integrated Land administration
4.2.6. Fit-for-purpose land administration
4.3. Vietnam Land administration
4.3.1. Land tenure in Vietnam
4.3.2. Decentralised land administration system
4.3.3. Function-based organisational structure
4.4. Land administration reform in Vietnam
4.4.1. Land policy framework development
4.4.2. Vietnam land information system
4.4.3. Land transparency
4.5. Land administration in Vinh Long
4.5.1. Land administration profile in case-study area
4.5.2. Current status of development of land registration
4.5.3. Key issues in land administration in Vinh Long
4.6. Chapter summary
Chapter 5: Stakeholder Requirements for a User-centric SDI Land in Vinh Long
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Stakeholder awareness of SDIs
5.2.1. Public stakeholder awareness of SDIs
5.2.2. Grassroots stakeholder awareness of SDIs
5.2.3. Stakeholder recommendations
5.3. Stakeholder requirements for SDI Land components
5.3.1. Spatial datasets
5.3.2. User community
5.3.3. Policies
5.3.4. Standards
5.3.5. Technology
5.4. Discussion
5.5. Chapter summary
Chapter 6: Stakeholder Requirements for a User-centric LAS in Vinh Long
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Stakeholder perceptions of land administration
6.2.1. Stakeholder awareness of land administration
6.2.2. Perceived land use rights
6.2.3. The importance of land information
6.2.4. Limitations of land registration services
6.2.5. Barriers to participation in land registration services
6.2.6. Informal land transactions
6.2.7. Support provided by local land administration authorities
6.2.8. Women’s participation in land administration
6.2.9. Public awareness raising
6.3. Discussion
6.4. Chapter summary
Chapter 7: A User-centric SDI Land Policy Framework for Vinh Long
7.1. Introduction
7.2. SDI generation
7.3. On the need for a user-centric SDI Land policy framework
7.3.1. Shared data approach – a cost-based analysis
7.3.2. The benefits of an SDI Land
7.4. SDI Land hierarchy
7.4.1. User-centric SDI Land hierarchy
7.4.2. User-centric SDI Land institutional relationships
7.5. User-centric SDI Land policy framework components
7.5.1. Datasets
7.5.2. User community
7.5.3. Policies to support a user-centric SDI Land
7.5.4. Standards
7.5.5. Technology
7.6. Towards a spatially enabled society
7.7. Chapter summary
Chapter 8: Conclusion and Recommendations
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Research summary
8.2.1. Responses to Research Questions
8.2.2. Major research findings
8.3. Assumptions and limitations
8.4. Future directions, further implications, and ways forward
8.5. Concluding remarks
Research Goals and Themes
This thesis aims to develop a comprehensive policy framework for a user-centric Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to enhance land administration at the provincial level in Vietnam, using Vinh Long Province as a case study. The research investigates how such an SDI can improve access to land information, address existing policy and institutional barriers, and support the broader e-government agenda in the Vietnamese context.
- Development of a policy framework for a user-centric SDI Land at the provincial level.
- Analysis of stakeholder requirements and perceptions regarding land administration services and data accessibility.
- Investigation of challenges and opportunities in the integration of land-related datasets, policies, and technology.
- Evaluation of the role of ICT in modernizing land registration and improving transparency in land management.
- Recommendations for institutional reform, data standardization, and capacity building to foster a spatially enabled society.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Research background
The introductions of the global positioning system (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), and remote sensing (RS) have brought a breakthrough in Earth observation, and have been supporting human development since the early 1990s. As a result of this development, in 1990, the term spatial data infrastructure (SDI) was first introduced, together with other terms such as national information infrastructure and geographic information infrastructure (MSC, 1990), and was intended to distinguish from more specific terms such as land information infrastructure, land information system, property rights infrastructure, and land administration infrastructure. In 1993, the term appeared in the title of the book “Toward a Coordinated Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Nation” published by the US National Research Council (MSC, 1993). However, it was only in 1994 that the term was first introduced in a legal document issued by the President of the USA (The President, 1994). Later, Coleman and McLaughlin (1998) defined the term SDI in terms of its components and their relationships. According to the authors, SDI includes several components such as databases, metadata, data networks, technology, institutional arrangements, policies and standards, as well as end-users. Many definitions of SDI were then proposed by different researchers (Coleman & Nebert, 1998; Masser, 1999; Rajabifard & Williamson, 2001).
Together with the development of science and technology, SDI has been viewed from various perspectives, depending on the country’s approach and the awareness of government organisations of SDIs (Rajabifard, Feeney & Williamson, 2002a; Thellufen, Rajabifard, Enemark & Williamson, 2009). However, even though there are differences in definitions of SDIs due to different national contexts or disciplines, most imply a similar overall goal, of improvement of access to and use of spatial data through effective and efficient data sharing.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces the research background, defines the research problem in the context of land administration in Vietnam, establishes research objectives, and outlines the overall research design.
Chapter 2: Research Methodology: This chapter details the multi-method research strategy employed, including the rationale for using a case study approach in Vinh Long, the data collection processes (interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires), and the ethical considerations followed.
Chapter 3: Literature Review on Spatial Data Infrastructures: This chapter reviews the global theoretical foundations of SDIs, their components, and benefits, and examines the status of SDI development in Vietnam and Vinh Long, highlighting current limitations.
Chapter 4: Literature Review on Land Administration in Vietnam: This chapter provides an overview of land administration theory and components, discusses the specific context of land administration in Vietnam, and presents the current organizational structure and issues within Vinh Long province.
Chapter 5: Stakeholder Requirements for a User-centric SDI Land in Vinh Long: This chapter presents findings from stakeholder consultations regarding the requirements for SDI Land components, including spatial datasets, user community, policies, standards, and technology.
Chapter 6: Stakeholder Requirements for a User-centric LAS in Vinh Long: This chapter analyzes stakeholder perceptions of land administration, land use rights, the importance of land information, and identifies specific barriers to participation in land registration services.
Chapter 7: A User-centric SDI Land Policy Framework for Vinh Long: This chapter proposes a comprehensive policy framework for a user-centric SDI Land in Vinh Long, covering the necessary components and institutional relationships required for success.
Chapter 8: Conclusion and Recommendations: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, offers responses to the research questions, addresses the study's limitations, and provides recommendations for future directions in land administration reform.
Keywords
Spatial Data Infrastructure, SDI, Land Administration, Vietnam, Vinh Long Province, User-centric SDI, Policy Framework, Land Registration, Land Use Rights, Land Information System, Stakeholder Requirements, Data Sharing, Land Governance, Geodetic Standards, Spatially Enabled Society
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The research focuses on proposing a policy framework for a user-centric Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to support and modernize the land administration system in the provincial context of Vinh Long, Vietnam.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The thesis explores the integration of spatial data, institutional policy frameworks, stakeholder needs, land registration processes, and the role of information communication technology (ICT) in improving land governance.
What is the primary research objective?
The objective is to develop a policy framework that enables a user-centric SDI Land, thereby increasing access to land information, reducing corruption, and contributing to the government's e-government strategy.
Which research methodologies were utilized?
The research employed a multi-method, case-study strategy, combining an extensive literature review with qualitative (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) and quantitative (questionnaire surveys) data collection methods.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body provides a comprehensive literature review on SDI and land administration theory, followed by empirical findings from Vinh Long regarding stakeholder awareness, barriers to service delivery, and specific recommendations for policy development.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), Land Administration, User-centric design, Vietnam, Land registration, Policy framework, Data sharing, and Spatially enabled society.
How is the SDI hierarchy structured in the proposed framework?
The proposed hierarchy organizes the SDI primarily at the provincial level for operational management, while linking to a national level SDI for aggregation of general information, ensuring alignment with Vietnam’s administrative structure.
What role does the 'Fit-for-Purpose' land administration play?
The 'Fit-for-Purpose' approach is adopted as a flexible and affordable strategy to support land registration in developing contexts like Vietnam, prioritizing the purpose of securing tenure over highly technical, costly survey standards.
Why is stakeholder engagement considered critical in this research?
Stakeholder engagement is essential because a user-centric model must address the actual needs, capacity, and demands of various groups—from central government ministries to grassroots land users—to ensure system adoption and effectiveness.
- Quote paper
- Mau Duc Ngo (Author), 2016, A Policy Framework for a Provincial User-centric SDI to support Land Administration in Vietnam. Case study of Vinh Long Province, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/370355
