How to implement LADM-COL: a step-by-step guide
The LADM-COL model is the foundation of multipurpose cadastre in Colombia. If you are a cadastral operator, cadastral manager, or work in cadastral updating, understanding this model is not optional: it is an IGAC requirement.
At GEOSAT we have implemented LADM-COL in 29 municipalities and currently have Terraes—our cadastral platform—in production in 9 of them. This guide summarizes what we have learned.
What is ISO 19152
LADM (Land Administration Domain Model) is an international standard defined in ISO 19152. It establishes a conceptual model for land administration that covers:
- Parties: the people or entities with rights over the land
- Rights, restrictions, and responsibilities (RRR): the legal relationship between parties and territory
- Spatial units: the geographic representation of parcels (land, buildings, units)
The standard is generic by design. Each country adapts it to its regulatory context.
What is LADM-COL
LADM-COL is the Colombian adaptation of the ISO 19152 standard, developed by IGAC (the Colombian geographic institute) with international cooperation support. It defines the data model that all cadastral operators and managers must follow to report information to the National Cadastral System.
The main differences from the generic model include:
- Colombia-specific classes: such as LC_Predio, LC_Terreno, LC_Construccion, LC_UnidadConstruccion
- Custom value domains: types of rights, parcel condition, use, and economic destination, according to Colombian regulations
- Integration with the RIC: the Cadastral Information Report delivered to IGAC
The model is implemented in INTERLIS, a data description language used in Switzerland and adopted by Colombia for cadastral interoperability.
The XTF format
XTF (XML Transfer Format) is the exchange format used by INTERLIS. When a cadastral operator finishes updating a municipality, it must generate an XTF file containing all parcel information according to the LADM-COL model.
The XTF includes:
- Alphanumeric data for parcels, owners, and rights
- Geometries of land, buildings, and construction units
- Relationships between objects according to the model
- Normalized domain values
XTF validation is performed with tools like ili2db or the IGAC validator. An invalid XTF file means the report will not be accepted.
What IGAC requires
IGAC establishes the technical requirements for cadastral information delivery:
- Data model: all information must conform to the current LADM-COL model
- Delivery format: validated XTF file with no errors
- Data quality: correct topology (no overlaps, no gaps), completeness of mandatory attributes
- RIC: the Cadastral Information Report that consolidates statistics and metadata from the process
- Supporting documentation: boundary agreements, parcel records, photographic evidence
The validation process is rigorous. In our experience, the most common errors are:
- Self-intersecting geometries
- Parcels without an associated owner
- Incorrect or outdated domain values
- Inconsistencies between land area and registered area
How Terraes handles it
Terraes, our cadastral platform, was designed from scratch on LADM-COL. It is not an adaptation of generic software: every table, every relationship, and every validation responds to the Colombian model.
Key features include:
- PostGIS database with the LADM-COL model implemented directly in the schema
- Real-time validation: Terraes validates topology, completeness, and consistency while the technician works, not at the end of the process
- Automatic XTF generation: the file is generated directly from the database, reducing conversion errors
- Quality dashboard: shows completion percentage and pending errors to resolve before delivery
Terraes is currently in production in Marinilla, Jardin, Amaga, Apartado, La Ceja, Sopetran, Girardota, Copacabana, and La Estrella.
Steps to implement LADM-COL in your project
- Study the model: download the official IGAC documentation and familiarize yourself with the classes and relationships
- Set up the database: use PostGIS with the LADM-COL schema. Tools like ili2db allow you to create the tables automatically from the INTERLIS model
- Migrate existing data: transform existing cadastral information to the new model, validating quality at each step
- Validate continuously: do not wait until the end of the project to validate. Use the IGAC validator frequently
- Generate the XTF: export validated information in XTF format and verify with the official validator
If you need support implementing LADM-COL or are interested in learning about Terraes, contact us. We have the experience of 29 municipalities to back the process.