The Intergovernmental Committee for Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) have been working in a consultative workgroup (The ePlan Working Group) over the last few years to establish a protocol to transfer Cadastral Survey Information between the Registering Authorities and the users and suppliers of Cadastral Survey Plans.

The ePlan protocol is a physical representation of a model of a cadastral survey plan. This model is based on the Unified Modelling Language (UML) and is realised as an XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) Document using a combination of the LandXML Standard and Jurisdictionally specific data.

The representation of the Survey in the ePlan Protocol has been called a CIF (Cadastral Information File). Part of the original charter of the consultative group was to prototype methods to Capture, Visualise and Validate a CIF. The original charter for this group was satisfied however it was identified that work still need to be done to implement and maintain the protocol.

The ICSM established an ePlan Implementation Group to assist in the implementation of the protocol in early 2008..

The terms of reference for this group are to
• Refine the ePlan Protocol as required
• Engage the Software Vendors to assist in the implementation of the protocol.
• Provide a forum to assist jurisdictions in implementing the standard.
• Advise the ICSM on Digital Survey Matters
• Provide a Governance structure for the protocol

This paper will outline the ePlan Protocol, where to access information about the protocol and report on National Progress towards implementation.