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Frequently asked questions about using CadGIS Viewer

You can also watch this demonstration video (Dutch | French).

  • How do I find a parcel if I know the full address?

    1. Click in the quick search field at the top of the window.
      search field
    2. Enter an address, e.g. street name house number postal code name of municipality.
      full address in search field
    3. Press ‘enter’ or click on the magnifying glass magnifying glass next to the field. A result list appears with the result that most closely matches the search query at the top.
      result list
    4. Click on the required result. The application shows the requested parcel centrally on the 1/1000 scale map and marks that parcel with a blue dot.
  • How do I find a parcel if I know the street name and the name of the municipality?

    1. Click in the quick search field at the top of the window.
      search field
    2. Enter the street name and the name of municipality.
      street name and name of municipality in search field
    3. Press ‘enter’ or click on the magnifying glass magnifying glass next to the field. A result list appears with the result that most closely matches the search query at the top.
      result list
    4. Click on the required result. The application shows the requested street in the centre of the map on a 1/1000 scale.
  • How do I find a parcel if I know the parcel number?

    1. Click in the quick search field at the top of the window.
      search field
    2. Enter the full parcel number or part of it.
      Example partial parcel number: division number+section+land number
      partial parcel number
      Example full parcel number
      full parcel number
    3. Press ‘enter’ or click on the magnifying glass magnifying glass next to the field. The application shows a result list.
    4. Click on the result you are looking for in the list. The application shows the requested parcel in the centre of the map on a 1/1000 scale and marks the parcel with a blue outline.

    Tip

    The parcel number is composed as follows: 11111A2222/33B444

    • 11111 = Division number consisting of 5 digits
    • A = Section consisting of 1 letter
    • 2222 = Land number consisting of 4 digits, with leading zeros, if any
    • 33 = ‘Bis’ number consisting of 2 digits, 00 if there is no bis number
    • B = Alphanumeric exponent consisting of 1 letter or _ if there is none
    • 444 = Numeric exponent consisting of 3 digits (with leading zeros, if any) or 000 if there is no exponent

    If you are not sure of the number or you do not know the division number, you can use the tool Locate > Search by parcel number.

  • How do I find a parcel if I know where it is located on the map?

    The available background map Cartoweb of the National Geographical Institute makes it easier to use the navigation tools to zoom to a parcel or an area whose approximate location you know on the map.

    1. First navigate to the municipality by entering the name or postal code in the quick search field at the top of the window, press enter and click the municipality in the result list.
    2. Place the cursor over the area where the parcel is believed to be located and scroll forward with the mouse wheel in order to zoom in.

    As more details become visible, the cursor can be positioned more precisely on the map to zoom in more efficiently when scrolling (the position of the cursor on the screen is the centre point for zooming).

  • What is the easiest way to find my properties on the cadastral map?

    You can find an overview of all your properties in MyMinfin under the category ‘Consult my immovable property data’ (‘My property’ tab). For each immovable property, there is a link to CadGIS Viewer that allows you to zoom directly to the property:

    1. All immovable properties are shown in a list. Click the arrow on the right to show the details of the immovable property.
      details of the immovable property
    2. Next to the item ‘View parcel plan’, click the ‘CadGIS Viewer’ link to navigate directly to that property in CadGIS.
      link to navigate directly to property in CadGIS
  • How do I get a list of the parcels within a certain radius?

    First navigate to the parcel which is used as the basis for the radius (choose a maximum of 5 adjacent parcels as the basis for the radius).

    Tip: if an official parcel plan extract is required on which an indication of all parcels located within a certain distance of the parcel(s) concerned is necessary, this option can be used.

    1. Navigate to the parcel that is used as the basis for the radius.
    2. Click the ‘Tools’ button to open the sidebar.
    3. At the bottom of the sidebar, click on ‘Spatial analysis’.
      ‘Spatial analysis’ option
    4. Click the bullet next to ‘Radius of 50m’. Modify to the distance as required.
      choice of distance
    5. Click the bullet next to ‘of max 5 parcels (via click)’.
      selection of parcels (via click)
    6. Click 1 to a maximum of 5 adjacent parcels on the map. The selected parcels are outlined in blue. Tip: hold Shift to select multiple parcels or to deselect a parcel.
      selected parcels are outlined in blue
    7. Click the ‘Confirm’ button.
      ‘Confirm’ button
      A buffer is drawn in blue according to the selected distance around the selected parcels. Parcels overlapping all or part of the buffer are outlined in orange. A result list with all selected plots appears at the bottom.
      selected parcels
    8. Export the list of selected parcels using the ‘Export CSV/XML’ button or print out the parcels using the ‘Print’ button.

    Tip: to create a printout, first minimise the result list window. Do not close the window, otherwise the selection will disappear.

  • How do I get a list of adjacent parcels?

    First navigate to the parcel which is used as the basis for determining the adjacent parcels (choose a maximum of 5 adjacent parcels as the basis for the adjacent parcels).

    Tip: if an official parcel plan extract is required on which an indication of all adjacent parcels for one or more parcels is necessary, this option can be used.

    1. Navigate to the parcel that is used as the basis for the radius.
    2. Click the ‘Tools’ button to open the sidebar.
    3. At the bottom of the sidebar, click on ‘Spatial analysis’.
      ‘Spatial analysis’ option
    4. Click the bullet next to ‘Adjacents’.
      option ‘Adjacents’
    5. Choose the ‘via click’ option. The option to enter parcel numbers is also possible (maximum 5 parcels for both options).
      ‘via click’ option
    6. Select the required parcels on the map (maximum 5 adjacent parcels). The selected parcels are outlined in blue.
      selected parcels are outlined in blue
    7. Click the ‘CONFIRM’ button.
      ‘CONFIRM’ button
    8. The adjacent parcels are outlined in orange. A result list with all selected parcels appears at the bottom.
    9. Export the list of selected parcels using the ‘Export CSV/XML’ button or print out the parcels using the ‘Print’ button.

    Tip: to create a printout, first minimise the result list window. Do not close the window, otherwise the selection will disappear.

  • How do I make a printout?

    Tip 1: the application creates a pdf file. This can be saved digitally and/or printed.

    Tip 2: use the tools to indicate adjacent parcels or parcels within a certain radius. Then use the print function to print out the results of the spatial analysis.

    1. Navigate the map to the area to be printed.
    2. Click the print icon.
      print icon
    3. The sidebar appears and shows the possible settings. A blue frame is shown on the map to indicate the area that will be printed. When adjusting the settings in the sidebar, the frame on the map will automatically adjust as well.
      sidebar appears
    4. Change the settings (Paper size, Scale, Print orientation) as required. Leave the tick next to ‘Official’ to create an official printout of the cadastral parcel plan (the detailed manual describes the difference between official and unofficial).
      possible settings
    5. Click ‘PRINT’ to create the pdf file.
      ‘PRINT’ button
    6. Depending on the settings of the web browser, the pdf file is shown in a new tab, downloaded to the folder set for downloads, or opened in a pdf reader.
    7. The pdf file can be printed from the web browser or from the pdf reader.
      example pdf file
    8. Remark: make sure to print on the appropriate paper size and choose the ‘True size’ option (never choose Fitting, or do not adjust the scale) to keep the correct scale on the printout.
      ‘True size’ option
  • Is there a manual for using CadGIS Viewer?

    Yes. In the application, you will find a description of all functions in the help pages. Click the icon with the question mark at the top right of the screen to open the help pages.

    icon with the question mark

    You can also watch this demonstration video (Dutch | French).

  • Is there a legend to CadGIS Viewer?

    This  legend (PDF, 109.88 KB) provides an overview of all the layers available in CadGIS Viewer, with a brief description and symbology overview.

  • How recent is the ‘most recent situation’?

    The ‘most recent situation’ contains all mutations up to and including the previous working day. This means that the mutations carried out in the current day will not yet be visible.

  • What is the difference between the most recent situation and the tax situation?

    The tax situation is the official state of the cadastral parcel plan on 1 January of a given year: it includes all modifications and mutations made as a result of deeds or events of the previous year.

    The most recent state of the cadastral parcel plan contains all active objects of the CadGIS database, including mutations and other map improvements up to and including the previous working day.

  • Why do I see only one surface with the parcels instead of two, as was the case in the previous version?

    In the new version of the application, we have simplified the information on cadastral parcels.

    The following information is shown:

    • Cadastral parcel ID: the parcel number or CaPaKey (Cadastral Parcel Key).
    • Tax situation: date of the tax situation (state on 1 January) in which the parcel was created or last modified. Encoding starts from the situation on 01.01.2016, so any data created or modified before 2016 will indicate 01.01.2016 as its tax situation.
    • PATRIS surface area (m²): surface area of the parcel as mentioned in the patrimonial documentation.
    • Surface type: origin of PATRIS surface.
      • ‘Title’ if the surface originates from a surveyor map attached to the deed.
      • ‘Graphical’ if the surface originates from a calculation of the surface of the parcel as it is listed in the parcel plan and of ‘source’ parcels.
      • ‘Verified’ if the area has been calculated and verified in the field or based on a reference document.

    The ‘graphical surface area’ available in the previous version, which indicated the surface of the representation of the parcel on the cadastral parcel plan, is no longer available. That information was often misinterpreted by users.

    It is still possible to obtain an estimate of that surface using the Measurement Tools (see the on line help for use).

  • Are all easements shown on the map?

    The layer of easements has not been updated for several years and is therefore not up to date. Ultimately, easements will no longer be visible on the cadastral map.

  • Can the added layers be kept in the application?

    No, the extra added layers are only visible for as long as the session is open. When reloading the application, only the default layers will be shown again.

  • Can I search by old parcel numbers?

    No, it is currently not possible to search for layers that are not in the layer list (TOC) by default, such as historical states.

  • Can I identify objects from added layers?

    No, it is currently only possible to view the data of the layers that are in the layer list (TOC) by default.

  • What is the difference between an official and an unofficial printout?

    Official Unofficial

    An official printout corresponds to the former cadastral map extract. Only a fixed set of layers of the GAPD (including cadastral parcels, buildings ...) is shown, and the result of the spatial analysis (parcels within a certain radius or adjacent parcels).

    The cadastral division mentioned in the header is the division in the exact centre of the print frame.

    On an unofficial printout, everything (except the background maps Cartoweb and Orthophoto) is printed as it is shown on the screen. This includes all layers (visible at the chosen scale), such as for instance the objects drawn with the drawing tools and the web services added by the user.

    Users themselves are responsible for the data they print.

    Note: the difference between the two types is only in the content of the printout. The selection lists for the various parameters such as paper size are identical for both types.

  • Why does the pdf of the printout now consist of a raster file whereas it used to be a vector file?

    The system for printing in CadGIS uses a raster image for the layout of the pdf file. The use of a raster image is a limitation caused by the document template management system of the FPS Finance.

    The CadGIS team is working on a tool to create an extract of a given area of the cadastral parcel plan in dxf and shp format.

    At present, the information of the cadastral parcel plan (current and tax situation) is already available through various channels:

    • As open data in the form of shapefiles. This is a file format recognised by most GIS applications.
    • As webservices (WMS or WFS). These can be integrated into GIS applications and AutoCAD.
  • Do you have another question about how CadGIS Viewer works?

    Send an email to support.meow@minfin.fed.be.