OS Terrain 50
Last updated
Last updated
OS Terrain 50 is an open height dataset of contours with spot heights, breaklines, coastline, lakes, ridges and formlines for Great Britain. Both OS Terrain 5 and OS Terrain 50, provide detailed three-dimensional digital terrain models (DTMs) of Great Britain. A DTM primarily defines the ground surface, having removed all protruding features (such as buildings and trees) elevated above the bare earth.
This product is updated annually
OS Terrain 50 is published as both grid data and contour data in a variety of formats. Both data types are created from the same source data and are supplied as 10km-by-10km tiles. These tiles are identified by quoting the National Grid reference of the south-west corner of the area they cover.
OS Terrain 50 grid: A grid of heighted points with regular 50m post spacing.
OS Terrain 50 contours: A contour dataset of 10m interval standard contour polylines. This includes mean high water and mean low water boundaries and spot heights.
Make better decisions about where to locate wind turbines and mobile phone masts. OS Terrain 50 lets you model wind direction and lines of sight at an early stage of planning and development, meaning fewer site visits.
Get the bigger picture about flood risk, soil erosion and pollution. By showing steep hillside gradients, OS Terrain 50 helps you plan flood defences and safeguard the landscape.
With the contours version of OS Terrain 50, you can shade in hills to show their height. This extra sense of depth is ideal for walking maps and apps.
Get an accurate, uncluttered view of the terrain with the grid version of OS Terrain 50. Its 50 metre post spacing gives you a surface model of the entire landscape, including major roads, large lakes and estuaries.
The contours dataset also includes mean high and low water boundaries.
Access to this product is free through the OS Data Hub.
