projectpercelen

Projectpercelen is a collaborative initiative to improve parcel data management and land administration. The project develops interoperable data models and open-source tools to define, track, and tax parcels more consistently. Initiated in 2018 by a consortium of city governments, universities, and civil-society groups, projectpercelen aims to reduce fragmentation of parcel information across agencies. The name reflects its regional roots and focus on parcels.

Scope and governance: The project operates as a multi-site program with urban pilots and regional authorities. It develops standardized parcel schemas, metadata practices, and reusable APIs to enable data sharing while protecting privacy. The work emphasizes open data principles and compatibility with common GIS platforms and tax systems.

Technical approach: Core components include a modular data model for parcel boundaries, ownership, usage, and taxation; an open-source processing pipeline; and a governance layer for access and auditing. The platform supports versioning, change tracking, and data lineage to support audits and planning. Interoperability is pursued through adherence to international standards such as ISO geographic information and OGC services.

Impact, outputs, and funding: Participating jurisdictions report improved data quality, faster parcel registration, and clearer workflows for planning and taxation. Public datasets and APIs have facilitated research and urban analysis. The program is governed by a steering committee of municipal representatives, academic partners, and civil-society observers, with funding from regional and national grants and, in some iterations, EU programs.

Challenges and outlook: Critics cite privacy and data sovereignty concerns, and questions about cost, scalability, and vendor lock-in. Proponents argue that standardized parcel data improves transparency and efficiency in planning and administration. Ongoing work focuses on expanding participation, refining data models, and ensuring long-term sustainability.