Technical Audit Projects

In 2004, WaterMark was engaged by the World Bank as an International Expert to establish the technical guidelines and appropriate methodology for the implementation of a workshop about State Policies concerning legal security of property rights in Peru . One of the outputs from the workshop was a strategy paper to identify solutions to enhance the security of property rights in Peru .

In 2004, Mark Doucette of WaterMark was engaged to participate in the International Advisory Committee for the Peru Urban Property Rights Project. The committee advises COFOPRI on the project progress and is a condition of the World Bank loan to Peru .

In 2003 – 2004, WaterMark was engaged for expert professional services for the design of a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded project / project component, within the framework of the existing Royal Government of Cambodia Land Management and Administration Project (RGC LMAP) and complementary to foreign technical assistance already being provided. WaterMark was required in the specific areas of land titling and registration / registry operation, land surveying, and land law and regulations.

In 2002 - 2004, WaterMark was engaged as a Subject Matter Expert and Project Management Consultant to support a proposal to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) by the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering of the University of New Brunswick . The project is designed to support the development of a modern national geodetic framework for land reform environmental management and the sustainable development of natural resources. It will include the transfer of Canadian technology and expertise to Brazilian entities responsible for the development and maintenance of a geo-centric geodetic reference system for all of Brazil .

In 2001, WaterMark was engaged by the Surveyor General of Canada Lands to clarify the role his office should play to ensure that his responsibilities under the Act are carried out under the Canada Lands Surveys Act. The final deliverable for this work was a report.

In 2001, WaterMark was engaged as a Technical Reviewer for an Asian Development Bank project for a Registration System for Secured Transactions for the country of Vietnam . The project included reviewing the technical components of the registration system proposed by a third party contractor and advising as to whether or not the system design was consistent with both standard industry practices and the requirements of the Vietnamese. Project deliverables included a report complete with recommendations.

In 2001, WaterMark was engaged as the Project Auditor for the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), to assess 16 projects conducted in Latvia , Lithuania , Estonia and Poland by Swedesurvey. WaterMark assessed the projects and provided feedback to Sida as to the effectiveness of the projects measured against the original scope and objectives. Projects included the installation and training on computer systems designed to support the management of land information management systems. Project deliverables included a report complete with recommendations.

In 2001, WaterMark was retained as the Project Auditor for Web based Motor Vehicle (MVR) registration application allowing auto dealers to access government license registration systems on-line. Project involved determining if processes designed to provide registration worked efficiently and effectively and to advise on ways to improve and streamline the system. Project deliverables included a report complete with recommendations.

In 1999, WaterMark was retained as the Information Technology Advisor to the World Bank for a land formalization project in Peru . The work involved assessing existing information technology capabilities in country and providing on-the-ground advice and guidance for equipment requirements for a large land titling and registration project.

In 1998, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Advisor to a software company for the development of a software package for the modernization of the land records management system for the Government of New Brunswick. The job entailed leading the development of a software testing plan to ensure the delivered software met contract specifications and user requirements. Deliverables included a testing plan and the initial round of test results.

In 1998, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Advisor to the World Bank for a project in Argentina to upgrade and modernize the land registry system in the province of La Plata . The work involved providing an on-the-ground assessment of the proposed project to the World Bank with respect to Bank plans to proceed with project financing. The modernization plan included the acquisition of new computer hardware and software.

In 1998, WaterMark was retained as the Project Auditor for the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), to assess 12 projects that they had sponsored in Russia and Ukraine . WaterMark assessed the projects and provided feedback to Sida as to the effectiveness of the projects measured against the original scope and objectives.

In 1996 / 1997 / 1998, WaterMark was retained as a Project Monitor for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), for a mapping project in Russia . The Ryazan Digital Mapping Project supported the development of a comprehensive land registration system through modernization of Russian capabilities in surveying and mapping. The original project involved the development of a land records system that integrated purpose built software and hardware. WaterMark provided feedback to CIDA as to the progress of the project measured against the original scope and budget.

In 1996 / 1997 / 1998, WaterMark was retained as a Project Monitor for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), for a technology transfer project in Russia . The Arctic Ice Project trained managers and technicians in the design and implementation of an ice and meteorological Geographical Information System (GIS). The original project involved the development of a system that integrated purpose built software and computer hardware. WaterMark provided feedback to CIDA as to the progress of the project measured against the original scope and budget.

In 1997, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Advisor to the Government of Peru for the project preparation phase of a land formalization project to be funded by the World Bank. The work involved providing on-the-ground advice and guidance in the preparation of World Bank required documentation for a larger project in the area of land records and registry systems. Recommendations included involved the system design and revised registration processes.

In 1997, WaterMark was retained as the Project Manager to review and compare existing Metadata Standards currently in use in Canada and the United States . The review included standards published by ISO/TC211, the FDGC and the Canadian General Standards Board. This review examined the current status and projected usage of the different Metadata standards.

In 1996, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Consultant for the design and development of a training and production facility for TECCONILE on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency. TECCONILE was formed to manage the water resources of the Nile River Basin System. WaterMark then acted in the capacity of a technical instructor for courses on GIS and Image Analysis System (IAS) Technologies. Courses were provided to participants from 6 African countries and delivered in Entebbe , Uganda , over a 3 week period. The program delivered was in support of a project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

In 1996, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Advisor to the Institute for Liberation and Democracy (ILD), headquartered in Lima , Peru . The project involved providing on-the-ground advice and guidance to ILD in the areas of land records and registry systems.

In 1996, WaterMark was retained as the GIS Technical Advisor to the ICOIN Pilot Project. The project involved proving the concept of using a knowledge-based toolkit in conjunction with GIS to develop decision support software for environmental management applications. The development team included a number of software programmers and analysts that integrated off-the-shelf software with purpose built applications to support a fish habitat requirement.

In 1995 – 1996, WaterMark was retained as a Technical Consultant to the Presidential Commission for Economic Growth and modernization of Haiti , for the establishment of a personal property registry system. The Inter-American Development Bank funded this work. The project involved working in Haiti to design and the implementation of an operating registry system. The software aspects of the project were coordinated out of Port-au-Prince and Miami . Project deliverables included all the government infrastructure required for the registry including registry software and documentation, system training and office and staff specifications.