(Originally published at eldia.com.do/consulta-inmobiliaria on May 9, 2011)
The twelve-digit sequence forming the positional cadastral designation is produced by an algorithm that calculates the coordinates of the parcel centroid and constructs the designation by interleaving the coordinate digits.
It is possible to search for parcels, and specifically for individual parcel plans filed under Law 108-05, by progressively removing the final digits of the designation according to the desired search radius in SIRCEA, the image publication system used by Real Estate Registry consultation rooms. Removing four digits finds parcels within approximately one hundred meters of a known coordinate point. Removing the final six digits expands the area to one thousand meters, while removing eight expands it to ten thousand meters.
In SIRCEA, use the remaining root of the positional designation and add the search wildcard “%” to find the individual plans of all approved georeferenced parcels within that area.
The positional designation is sufficient by itself to locate a parcel and does not require additional geographic, political or administrative information. It can even be used with a navigation GPS to locate the parcel on the ground without specifying the province, municipality or cadastral district. The municipality nevertheless remains part of the information recorded in the official documents that establish the existence of a property.