This article presents a wide-ranging survey of the most important land information systems researches, which were fulfilled in different periods of time in the developed countries and in the new independent states. The authors from the system approach positions examine the land information systems methodology evolution – from the simplest cadastral measurements to the creation of the multipurpose cadastre, which includes land cadastre, property rights register and property assessment system. An important place in the article has the cadastre and property assessment researches, fulfilled in Republic of Moldova. The survey shows that the researches done in this field are fragmentary, devoted only to some cadastral systems elements, without taking into consideration of the synergetic effect, caused by the functioning of the multifunctional cadastre system. The article concludes with the proposals of main directions of research for the future in order to create more efficient real estate cadastre.