How GIS Supports Portugal’s Rural Cadastral Data

The catastrophic fires that swept through Portugal in 2017, resulting in the loss of 100 lives, injuries to more than 300 individuals, and profound economic, environmental, and social losses, exposed long-standing problems in rural land management and the government’s lack of information regarding landowners and property locations. The devastation illuminated key issues, including unclear property boundaries, land abandonment, poor agricultural and forestry management, and rough territory.

Today, the Portuguese government has addressed these challenges with the creation of BUPi (Balcão Único do Prédio), which implements a progressive and iterative approach to achieve land cadastre, sustained in a technology platform based in a geographic information system (GIS).

Historically, widespread uncertainty about property boundaries has been a major issue, often caused by generational inheritance without proper documentation. Many heirs are unaware of their property limits, creating disputes and leaving land unclaimed. This problem is exacerbated by Portugal’s fragmented landholdings, particularly in the north, where small, irregular parcels dominate. Without accurate cadastral data, effective land-use planning and dispute resolution were nearly impossible.

This issue, combined with land abandonment and poor land management from rural depopulation, socioeconomic changes, and outdated cadastral systems, has led to agricultural decline, biodiversity loss, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters like erosion and wildfires. Additionally, uncoordinated land use and forestry practices—such as the unchecked spread of eucalyptus—create ecological risks and exacerbate wildfire potential.

Abandoned lands, unregulated forestry, and unclear property boundaries were key contributing factors in the wildfire devastation. The 2017 tragedy highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive cadastral reform to prevent and mitigate risks of future disasters and the growing impact of climate change.

In response, the Portuguese government launched BUPi, an innovative platform leveraging GIS technology to address these challenges. BUPi simplifies property registration through a collaborative, citizen-centered approach. The tool allows landowners to map and register their properties online or with support from local technicians at designated counters in municipalities participating in the project. Their work is properly facilitated by the usage of GIS tools and the ever-increasing library of geographical data, including satellite imagery.

Of the 173 municipalities in Portugal, 156 have joined the project. Only the Azores Autonomous Region, which plans to enlist in 2025, remains outside this nationwide initiative.

BUPi’s technological foundation relies on five key pillars, powered by GeoBUPi (ArcGIS Enterprise):

1. GIS viewer: A web-based tool (ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript) for visualizing and registering property boundaries.

2. Mobile app: A field-based application (ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript) for precise boundary mapping.

3. Geoprocessing scripts: Automated workflows in Python (ArcPy) for efficient data validation.

4. Dashboards: Interactive analytics tools (ArcGIS Online) for citizens and authorities.

5. Tiled Imagery Dedicated Server: To publish tiled imagery services to be used across all the solution components.

These components work seamlessly through and with GeoBUPi, which acts as the system’s core.

Since launching, BUPi has provided legal clarity, protected property rights, and enabled landowners to optimize land use. At a community level, it has promoted sustainable practices and mitigated environmental risks. Nationally, BUPi has improved land governance and disaster prevention by enabling better policies and resource management. Additionally, accurate cadastral data supports economic growth through enhanced planning and investment opportunities.

Portugal’s challenges with rural land cadastre demanded innovative solutions. BUPi employs GIS technology and a collaborative approach to address these issues. Citizens now have the power to unlock the potential for effective land-use planning, which can drive economic development and bridge social gaps. By transforming rural landscapes and promoting sustainability, BUPi serves as a scalable model for addressing similar challenges worldwide.

BUPi’s operative model, and the technological solution implemented in the BUPi platform, makes it a replicable model for countries facing similar cadastral challenges. By leveraging widely used GIS technologies and combining them with modern architectures and technologies, the platform establishes a customizable foundation that can be adapted to different legal and cultural contexts. This is further enhanced by the implementation of citizen-centric designs and processes. The platform fosters a collaborative approach between different levels of central, regional, and local governments.

Moreover, BUPi aligns with “Fit-for-Purpose land administration” principles, as outlined in the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM). Its SaaS (software as a service)-based infrastructure ensures flexibility and scalability, enabling rapid deployment and adaptation to regional needs. This alignment makes BUPi a practical, modern solution for improving cadastral systems globally.

By using BUPi’s proven technological pillars, other nations can implement efficient, cost-effective cadastral systems with clear results in a short period of time. The platform demonstrates how GIS technology can modernize land management, offering valuable lessons worldwide.