Digital plans: The next generation of ePlan and Land XML
NSWLRS has adopted LandXML as a digital format for digital plan lodgment. With digital plans Surveyors can benefit from improvements in the efficiency of the plan approval and registration process.
Digital Plans services are available with level 3 ePlan access through the NSW LRS Online portal.
For more information see the individual fact sheets for approving authorities, developers and surveyors, or read the LXML user guide.
If you require any assistance please contact the Digital Plan Examination Team via the Contact Us form.
Model and NSW LXML Recipe
Background
The Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) has endorsed LandXML (LXML) as the national standard for digital lodgment of cadastral plans.
The LXML Model accommodates all the survey geometry, administrative and titling data to process a plan from lodgment and registration through to the Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB) update.
The ICSM publication ePlan Protocol LandXML Mapping (PDF 1.25 MB) defines every element within the national LXML schema, but not every jurisdiction will use all the elements within the schema.
Digital plans in LXML format that are lodged in NSW will only contain:
All the administrative information (including the subset in the LXML), certification and signatures will remain in a TIFF format Administration Sheet which must be lodged with the LXML file as part of the lodgment bundle.
NSW LXML Recipe
NSW LRS publishes a NSW specific document - the NSW LandXML Recipe to assist survey software vendors and surveyors to develop LXML functionality within their software and practices.
The NSW LXML Recipe is a subset of the ICSM LXML specification and also specifies the elements required in the LXML file for a plan submission to NSW LRS.
Current Version NSW LRS LXML Recipe Version 9.0 - Published July 2018
Following a period of feedback from stakeholders, the NSW LandXML Recipe version 9.0 has now been finalised.
NSW LandXML Recipe - Specifications for preparation of Deposited Plans in LandXML format for lodgment in NSW - version 9.0 (PDF 3.4MB).
Note on version 9
Additional changes make to the draft version sent previously are as follows:
1. Updated Section 4.19.2 to include additional FieldNote to sample ReducedObservation ( Page 77)
2. Updated wording in Section 4.22 to clarify (Page 80)
3. Removed the DocFileRef Element from Recipe (previously Section 3.9) and renumbered following sections. Changed the FeatureDictionary definition as per section 3.8 – Both of these elements have not been used correctly in the past. Basically the FeatureDictionary will directly record the NSW schema name and Version No used to create the file.
NSW Schema files
These files provide NSW jurisdictional specific data elements for digital plans prepared in accordance with the national ICSM model.
NSW Enumeration types (.XSD 42.8 KB)
NSW ePlan Protocol Schema (.XSD 52 KB)
LandXML Services available in ePlan
Two services have been deployed in the utilities tab of the ePlan portal to assist surveyors in their development of LXML capability.
1. LXML Validation Service
All ePlan users can now check their plans online for compliance with over 100 business and surveying rules and regulations.
By simply uploading LXML plan files to the validation service, surveyors can have more certainty that their plans will avoid the requisitions that commonly hold up registration.
NSW LRS is preparing to update the Validation Service to apply the latest Schema and Regulation changes. If you expierence any issues with this service please contact our Digital Plan Examination Team via the Contact Us form
2. LXML Plan Rendering Service
SIX to render plan files in LandXML format onto a deposited plan form. The service is currently in a 'prototype' stage. This service can be used by surveyors to assist them in resolving issues in LandXML testing and lodgments.
A TIFF file of the plan drawing sheet may also be needed to be lodged to support the LandXML until NSW LRS can produce a quality formal rendering of the LXML file onto the appropriate plan form.
What software can I use for digital plans?
A range of digital plans software is available to assist surveyors. Some software providers also offer training in their applications and in LandXML.
Find out more on our software suppliers page.