OS Docs HomeOS NGDOS APIsOS Download ProductsMore than MapsProduct Refresh Dates

Boundary-Line Overview

This overview introduces Boundary-Line and gives context for all users – highlighting key features, providing examples of potential uses, and listing details such as file sizes, supply formats, etc.

Boundary-Line provides a representation of the hierarchy of administrative and electoral boundaries and their names for England, Scotland and Wales. Boundary-Line for England and Wales was initially digitised from Ordnance Survey’s boundary record sheets at 1:10 000 scale (or, in some cases, at larger scales).

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) codes are supplied by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and General Register Office for Scotland (GROS).

Appropriate software is needed to use the data for your intended application.

An example of Boundary-Line data in Scotland showing distinct regional boundaries across the country.
An example of Boundary-Line data in Scotland

Boundary-Line benefits

The high specification of Boundary-Line offers you the following benefits:

  • Full coverage of Great Britain, supplied as England, Scotland and Wales.

  • The key boundary dataset for Great Britain, suited to multiple applications using a geographical information system (GIS) and other digital mapping systems.

  • The full hierarchy of boundaries.

  • Structured vector format, offering great functionality.

  • GSS codes, where available, which allow you to link Boundary-Line polygons with GSS information.

  • Area values for every polygon.

  • Mean high water (springs) mark, which enables you to build and explicitly identify dry land areas within coastal polygons.

  • Documented updates via bi-annual releases allow you to easily identify relevant changes.

  • Unique administrative area identifiers are retained at each update, allowing revised boundaries to be related to your existing data.

Product applications

Boundary-Line can be used for GIS analysis to support a wide range of business decision-making, such as:

  • Political analysis

  • Environmental analysis

  • Statistical analysis for social or marketing decision-making

  • Geo-demographic analysis

  • Asset management

  • Planning applications

  • Legal work

  • Reference and research

  • Customised graphic output

Index

This overview includes the following sections:

PreviousJune 2024NextData overview

Last updated

Was this helpful?