The Department of Lands and Survey will focus on upgrading its digital services and modernising its systems in the coming year, director Uche Obi said in a new year message.
In a LinkedIn post on 6 January, Obi said the department would continue “re-evaluating how we serve the public, our customers, and our stakeholders” under its ‘Mapping Our Future’ vision.
The aim is developing “a modern, responsive organisation – one that delivers innovative, accessible services and is equipped to meet the evolving needs of the Cayman Islands,” he said.
A key element of the plan is a new Lands and Survey website, which is expected to provide updated access points for land, mapping, and survey information.
The department is also working on a next-generation version of CAYMAP with 3D functionality to enhance how data is viewed and used across Cayman.
Obi said the roadmap for the year includes creation of a Digital Twin of the Cayman Islands, designed to provide a detailed virtual representation of the physical environment.
Island-wide aerial photography will support this initiative and feed into wider mapping and planning work.
The department also intends to modernise internal systems and support these changes with updated legislation.
“Here’s to another year of progress as we continue Mapping Our Future together,” Obi said.
The digital push follows the government’s launch of its first Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) in September.
The index was developed in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund’s Statistics Department through three technical assistance missions conducted between 2023 and 2024, with funding from the IMF’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre.
The RPPI tracks property price movements across George Town, West Bay, Seven Mile Beach, Bodden Town, East End, North Side, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.
