Demarkáció

Demarkáció, or demarcation, is the process of defining and marking boundaries between political units, jurisdictions, or other defined areas. It covers international borders, internal administrative divisions, cadastral property lines, and maritime boundaries. The concept is used in law, geography, cartography, and land administration to establish where a boundary lies and how it is observed in practice.

In international law, demarcation is distinct from delimitation. Delimitation refers to determining the boundary line in legal or cartographic terms, often through treaties or agreements, while demarcation concerns the on-the-ground marking of that boundary. Demarcation involves placing physical indicators such as markers, signs, fences, or buoys, and may include the creation of administrative procedures for maintenance and verification.

The demarcation process typically follows a legal or political decision to define the boundary, conducting technical surveys and mapping, agreeing on a geodetic reference system, and implementing fieldwork to install markers and markers’ maintenance. Modern methods commonly rely on geographic information systems (GIS), satellite imagery, global positioning systems (GPS/GNSS), and other surveying technologies to ensure precision and consistency across time.

Challenges to demarcation include natural changes to boundaries (such as river course shifts), overlapping or competing claims, lack of political agreement, limited access to disputed areas, security concerns, and financial or technical constraints. Successful demarcation requires cooperation among the relevant authorities, clear legal frameworks, and ongoing monitoring to address changes or infringements.

See also: delimitation, boundary, border, cadastral surveying.