INSIGHTS · BLOG
Notes from
the field.
Deforestation monitoring with satellite imagery in Colombia: early-warning systems and how they work
How forest loss is detected from space in Colombia: Sentinel and Landsat sensors, early-warning systems, IDEAM's role, and how organizations can stand up operational deforestation monitoring.
Digital elevation models: DEM, DTM and DSM — differences, sources and when to use each in Colombia
DEM, DTM and DSM are not synonyms. This guide clarifies the difference, reviews the sources available for Colombia (SRTM, COP30, ALOS, LiDAR) and explains when each model is the right choice.
Mass appraisal with GIS: how land is valued in the multipurpose cadastre
Mass appraisal is the economic heart of the multipurpose cadastre. How homogeneous zones are built, the role GIS plays, which methods are used, and how the quality of land valuation is controlled in Colombia.
Artificial intelligence applied to GIS: real cases in Colombia
What AI really changes in the geospatial workflow: land cover classification, automated cadastral validation, change detection and prediction, with Colombian examples.
Land use change analysis with QGIS: a practical guide for Colombia
How to measure land cover and land use change between two dates with QGIS and Sentinel-2: classification, transition matrix and change map, with Colombian data.
Satellite monitoring of oil palm in Colombia: indices, alerts and costs
How satellite monitoring detects stress, bud rot and yield drops in oil palm before the human eye can. Indices, resolution and costs for Colombia.
Territory digital twin: what it is and how it applies in Colombia
Beyond the map: what a territory digital twin is, how it differs from a traditional GIS, and real applications in cadastre, road management and risk in Colombia.
Multipurpose cadastre in Colombia: what it is, how it works and who implements it [2026]
Complete guide to Colombia's multipurpose cadastre. Definition, the 5 components (physical, legal, fiscal, economic, environmental), regulatory framework (Law 1955, Decree 148, Resolution 388), phased implementation, costs and fiscal benefits for municipalities.
How to choose a geospatial consultancy in Colombia: 10 key criteria
A guide for evaluating geospatial consultancies. Experience, tech stack, proprietary products, LADM-COL, migration, AI, references, and more.
Cadastral software in Colombia 2026: landscape and comparison
Comparison of LADM-COL cadastral software platforms in Colombia. IGAC tools, commercial platforms, and full-service solutions.
ArcGIS or QGIS for government in Colombia: 2026 decision guide
Decision framework for choosing between ArcGIS and QGIS in Colombian government agencies. Costs, LADM-COL, migration, and real cases.
Drone Topography in Colombia: Costs, Accuracy, and Regulations 2026
Complete guide to drone topography in Colombia. Costs per hectare, achievable accuracies, Civil Aviation regulations, and comparison with traditional surveying.
How to Choose a Cadastral Operator in Colombia: A Guide for Government Entities
What to look for when hiring a cadastral operator. LADM-COL experience, technical capacity, proprietary software, XTF export, and IGAC compliance.
QGIS: Basic Tutorial for Government Geospatial Projects
Practical introduction to QGIS for government staff. Installation, data loading, visualization, spatial queries, and publishing with GeoServer.
Environmental Monitoring with Sentinel-2: A Practical Guide for Colombia
How to use free Sentinel-2 imagery for deforestation monitoring, vegetation cover, and land-use change detection in Colombia.
ArcGIS vs QGIS for government: when to use each one
A real-world comparison based on 61 GIS projects. When ArcGIS is the best choice and when QGIS wins on cost, flexibility, and control.
Terraes: How Our Cadastral Management Platform Works
Architecture, features, and use cases of Terraes, the LADM-COL cadastral platform with which we have updated 9 municipalities. Virtual office, XTF export, and AI validation.
How to implement LADM-COL: a step-by-step guide
What is LADM-COL, how the data model works, how to generate XTF files, and what IGAC requires. Based on our experience in 29 municipalities.
AI for Cadastre: How We Automated Property Validation
How we apply artificial intelligence to automate cadastral validation, detect inconsistencies, and reduce errors in property management.
PostGIS for cadastre: a getting started guide
How to use PostGIS as a geospatial database for cadastral management. Installation, data structure, spatial queries, and connecting to QGIS.
Why NDVI alone is no longer enough for crop monitoring
Analysis of new satellite indices (MSAVI, GNDVI, OSAVI) and when to use each in Colombian crops.
LADM-COL: practical guide for cadastral operators
What the LADM-COL standard is, how XTF export works, and what it means for cadastral management in Colombia.
The cadastral operator of the future is a software company
Why the next decade of cadastre will be defined by code quality.