Parcel Fabric Editing
Definition
Parcel fabric editing is the specialized maintenance of cadastral parcels as a coherent, topologically correct network with lineage to surveys and plats. A parcel fabric stores parcels, blocks, and boundaries with rules that ensure closure, adjacency, and least-squares adjustment to control points. Editing focuses on legal descriptions—bearings, distances, curves—rather than arbitrary digitizing. Modern systems support record-driven workflows: each survey or deed creates authoritative updates, with history preserved for audits. Integration with zoning, easements, and rights-of-way ensures that changes propagate consistently. Because parcels have legal force, QA/QC, versioning, and role-based approvals are mandatory before publishing updates.
Application
Assessors adjust parcels after subdivisions or lot line adjustments. Planners reference the fabric for permits. Utility easements and ROWs tie into the fabric to avoid conflicts. Title companies trace chains of title, and courts rely on accurate boundaries in disputes. Emergency responders reference the latest parcels for addressing.
FAQ
How is adjustment done?
By least-squares fitting of parcel lines to control points and monuments, distributing residuals while honoring legal record geometry.
What’s the benefit of record-driven edits?
They create auditable links from map changes to legal documents, improving trust and reducing errors from freehand drawing.
Can historical plats be integrated?
Yes—georeference and enter bearings/distances as records, capturing lineage and revealing long-term shifts or encroachments.
How to prevent topology breaks during edits?
Use rules and validation to enforce closure and adjacency; perform checks before saving; and stage updates in versions for review.
SUPPORT
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