From Excel to “smart spreadsheets” and geospatial data analysis: a digital audit of the land
Until recently, land records in the municipality were kept in standard Excel spreadsheets, which did not provide a complete picture of the available resources. Olena Drachuk, a Chief Specialist at the Department of Land Relations, Architecture and Urban Planning of Oleksandriia Village Council, shares how the training helped her view the land inventory from a different perspective. Using modern tools and data from online sources, the specialists compiled a single “smart spreadsheet” covering more than 15,000 plots across the entire municipality — ranging from municipal to privately owned and state-owned land.
“Whilst compiling this database, we effectively undertook a comprehensive land audit. We identified cases where lease agreements need to be renewed or re-registered, and where land is being used without any formal documentation at all. The section on geographic information systems (QGIS) was a particular highlight for me. This has finally made it possible to identify the actual resources that the municipality can use for its development,” says Olena Drachuk.
This approach has enabled the village council’s experts to gain comprehensive insight into every plot of land, which is crucial for economic growth. Once you have a complete picture of the land resources, you can offer plots of land to investors. Attracting investment through land leasing means new jobs, tax revenue and municipal development.
Transparency and efficiency of services for residents
Sorting the data has made the council’s work considerably easier. The village Head Oleksandr Huts says that now the municipality has up-to-date records, which help them respond to residents’ enquiries immediately. For example, when a resident contacts officials to verify land ownership details, specialists can instantly view aggregated data for all settlements within the municipality in the system: from registered plots to gaps in the registers.
“It really does make a big difference in our day-to-day work. Even a basic organisation of the information allows us to immediately identify ownerless plots and enter them into the system. We are building up our database to ensure it is as comprehensive as possible. We now have a comprehensive overview of the entire municipality, which takes land management to a whole new level,” says Oleksandr Huts.
Land as a tool for economic development
For Oleksandriia municipality, the training has become a reliable guideline on complex issues relating to land legislation. Every hectare is now seen as a tool for development and an investment magnet. Olena Drachuk firmly believes that the municipality’s strength and financial security lie in the professional management of its land.
“For me, as a professional, this course serves as a tool for turning knowledge into practical resources. Training is not just theory, but a clear path to boosting budget revenue. Our land portfolio is now carefully monitored, and that gives us confidence. We have become more professional, and our municipality is now much more resilient in the face of challenges,” concludes Olena Drachuk.
