SURVEY DEPARTMENT MANDATE

Zambia Survey department falls under the Ministry of lands and is the leading mapping organization in Zambia. ZSD holds the official mandate under Government to dedicate resources for mapping development and production to benefit public interest and investment for socio-economic development. The clients ZSD has served include government, private and civic society organizations utilizing mapping product services for the development programmes.

With the official mandate ZSD has large map depositories of mapping product services it has developed over 50 years. In addition to the delivery of mapping services, ZSD has been responsible for many years to coordinate and promote the sensible acquisition and use of primary data sources from aerial photography satellite remote sensing acquisition and use of primary data sources from aerial photography satellite remote sensing platforms and GPS field survey campaigns-largely in support of various development sectors:

Environment and natural resources
Agriculture
Mining
Engineering and Physical infrastructure/Utilities
Tourism
Defence and security
Land property formation/creation

FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT 

(a) Cadastral Services:

This deals with services relating to the accurate fixation and recording of Real Estate as well as resolving issues of boundary dispute. The branch consists of:

(i) Cadastral Drawing Office

The office undertakes the productions survey diagrams, working and general plans using manual methods but computerised production is being undertaken at a pilot level;

(ii) Examination Section

This responsible of examining and approving all cadastral surveys and governed by the Land Survey Act and its Regulations. It also manages the Plan-room where all survey records are achieved and the number of all properties in Zambia is done; and

(iii) Regional Survey Offices

They carryout property surveys of planned areas, as well as property boundary dispute surveys. Verification of chiefs’ boundaries are also coordinated and carried out under this branch

(b) Mapping Services

This concerns services relating to production and verification of national topographic maps and specialized mapping. It consists of three 3) main sections, that is:


(i) Photogrammetric Section

Its functions are planning, aerial photography and mapping (large scale) from aerial photographs;

(ii) Reprographic Section

It functions are processing aerial photographs at pre-determined scales, archiving of start-filed copies of approved diagrams and plans for properties and reproduction of national maps; and

(iii) Cartographic Section

It deals with the preparation, production and revision of national maps (to photographic and thematic maps) at various scales as well as the selling of all these maps.

(c) Survey Services

The major role of this branch is to advance the National Geodetic Control Network and maintain and improve it as surveying and positioning technologies evolve. The other responsibilities include testing and calibrating survey equipment used by both Government and Private Surveyors, co-ordination of user agency requirements, dissemination of geodetic data to user agencies and the public at large and surveying and maintenance of international boundaries. It consists of:

(i) Records Office

Its function is to secure and keep in good order all records of permanent control network stations across the country; and


(ii) Field Survey Section

Its functions are to plan, co-ordinate and carry out surveys for the establishment, extension and maintenance of network of national stations in Zambia.