Preserve the submitted plan
Record the plan exactly as received, including coordinates, bearings, distances, scale, orientation, stated area, annotations and survey references.
DiKnow TechnologiesUK / GhanaDocument-first site plan analysis
Analyse the existing site plan first. Escalate with purpose.
SPV preserves and analyses the spatial evidence already contained in a paper cadastral or site plan before later measurements or interpretations are introduced.
Verified site plan projectionPaper site plan → satellite context
Site plan verificationStandard → verified
The SPV method
From paper evidence to a defensible spatial baseline.
A new field visit can add valuable evidence, but it can also introduce a new date, new measurements and a new interpretation. SPV keeps the original plan evidence distinct and auditable.
Reconstruct the boundary
Extract the available plan information and rebuild the parcel as a digital polygon using the appropriate country-specific grid or coordinate reference system.
Project the parcel
Place the reconstructed boundary on suitable satellite imagery or basemaps to reveal its claimed location and surrounding context.
Assess LOSE
Examine Location, Overlap, Size and Environment, including apparent displacement, boundary conflict, acreage differences and relevant surrounding features.
Report and focus the next step
Present maps, measurements and findings, then identify whether official searches, beacon recovery, a site inspection, resurvey or additional expert work is justified.
The LOSE framework
Four questions every land decision should answer.
Location
Where does the submitted plan place the parcel, and is that location spatially coherent?
Overlap
Does the parcel intersect another plan, boundary, claim or mapped feature?
Size
Does the reconstructed or calculated area agree with the acreage or area stated on the plan?
Environment
What roads, buildings, waterways, wetlands, development or surrounding features may affect the land?
Focused escalation
When later fieldwork may be justified.
Incomplete or illegible plan information
Essential coordinates, scale, bearings, distances or reference information cannot be reliably interpreted.
Material spatial inconsistency
The reconstructed boundary, stated area or mapped location indicates a discrepancy that requires investigation.
Beacon or boundary confirmation
Physical evidence on the land needs to be recovered, measured or compared with the submitted plan.
Institutional or statutory requirement
A court, land authority, lender, regulator or professional standard requires a field inspection or fresh survey.
Frequently asked questions
Understanding document-first SPV.
Does SPV always require an immediate site visit?
No. Where a legible and sufficiently complete site plan is available, SPV can ordinarily begin by preserving and analysing that plan. Later fieldwork may still be recommended when the findings or an institutional requirement justify it.
Does SPV replace a licensed surveyor?
No. SPV supports more focused and accountable professional investigation. It does not replace necessary field surveying, official searches or the statutory responsibilities of licensed professionals and authorities.
Can SPV analyse an old paper site plan?
Yes, provided the plan contains sufficient legible spatial information. The quality and completeness of the source plan determine what can be reconstructed and how confidently it can be interpreted.
What does LOSE mean?
LOSE is the SPV verification framework: Location, Overlap, Size and Environment.
Have a paper site plan that needs clearer interpretation?
Send an enquiry for a document-first SPV review, satellite projection, comparison or professional presentation.
Start an SPV requestSPV provides independent spatial analysis and decision-support evidence. It does not by itself authenticate legal title, determine ownership or replace official land searches, licensed field surveys, legal advice, or decisions of the relevant authorities and courts.