Day: March 21, 2019

Assignment 6: Survey Systems & Land Allocation

Q1: Using Google Earth or Google Maps, find an image of each of the following types of survey system in Canada: (a) Seigneurial system, (b) Nova Scotia / New Brunswick Township System, (c) Ontario Township System (identify which type your example is), (d) Dominion Land Survey System, (e) British Columbia Survey System other than DLS, (f) unsystematic settlement in Newfoundland, and (g) Block and Lot Survey System

(a) Seigneurial system found at 47.476722, -70.321819
(b) Nova Scotia/ New Brunswick township system found in Chester, NS, at 44.541355, -64.242759
(c) Ontario Township System (640 Acre Sectional) found above Toronto at 43.951830, -79.370660
(d) Dominion Land Survey System found by Moose Jaw, SK, at 50.305427, -105.366026
(e) BC Direct and Lot Survey found at 56.380394, -120.866384
(f) Unsystematic settlement in Newfoundland in Bonavista at 48.651437, -53.112960
(g) Block and Lot Survey System in Bowmanville, ON, at 43.923509, -78.687039

Q2:Choose some area in the world, outside of Canada. Based on a visual examination of that area in Google Earth / Google Maps, state (a) whether the land allocation appears to be systematic, (b) whether there is similarity to any Canadian survey system, (c) whether the area appears to be densely settled, (d) what kind of land use appears to be carried out there (e.g. industrial, residential, agriculture, forestry, or some combination of these), and (e) whether the land allocation appears to be a good fit for the land use and population density.

The area I decided to look at is Paris, France. Below is a piece of the city I intend to look at.

Snapshot of Paris, France, taken from Google Maps
  1. The land allocation for Paris appears to not be systematic and is extremely sporadic. Considering the age of the city this was expected.
  2. Looking at the snapshot of the city there appears to be no correlation to any Canadian survey systems.
  3. Being a snapshot of the core of Paris (one of the most densely populated cities in the world), this area is very densely settled. Just looking at the picture itself the area is clearly well populated.
  4. This land is most definitely not used for agriculture/forestry/industry and appears to be primarily for residential and businesses use.
  5. Considering the business and residential aspect of this area this land allocation is not ideal. For a city with such a high population density, business count, and tourism aspect, the random spider-web of streets and various lot sizes would make it a challenge to navigate. It would be much better to have a well organized grid like New York City, but considering Paris was heavily settled long before any systematic surveying methods the city being laid out as it is is not a surprise.