OS MasterMap Water Network Layer Overview

This overview introduces OS MasterMap Water Network Layer and gives context for all users – highlighting key features, providing examples of uses, and listing details such as file sizes, etc.

OS MasterMap Water Network Layer is a three-dimensional digital representation of Great Britain's watercourses. The product includes rivers, streams, lakes, lochs and canals as a series of watercourse network lines. The network lines (links) are attributed to provide a range of information about the section of watercourse they depict. OS MasterMap Water Network Layer will significantly enhance systems used to manage waterways and rivers and the flood risk they pose.

Example extract from OS MasterMap Water Network Layer showing WatercourseLink and HydroNode features.

Watercourses that are underground or below structures are included where Ordnance Survey capture processes or accepted sources can infer the connection.

Polygons and lines representing the water area and its banks are not supplied in this product but will continue to be maintained and supplied as part of the OS MasterMap Topography Layer product.

OS MasterMap Water Network Layer is provided with three-dimensional coordinates.

Key features of the product

The OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product includes the following key features:

• Flow and connectivity.

• Three-dimensional geometry.

• Catchment information including name.

• The names of watercourses, including language alternatives.

• Vertical relationships where water courses pass over or under one other.

• Average widths.

• Additional information provided by national authorities.

Product applications

OS MasterMap Water Network Layer supports a wide range of customer applications that use geographic information. The product can be used alone or in combination with other Ordnance Survey products, such as OS MasterMap Topography Layer, OS MasterMap Imagery Layer and OS Terrain 5.

The OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product could be used for applications such as:

• Tracking water flows and contamination.

• Flood prediction, protection and response measures.

• Analytics and visual interpretation, particularly when used in combination with other Ordnance Survey products, for example, OS Terrain 5.

• The management of statutory directives relating to watercourses.

• Ecology studies, for example, species migration.

Product update schedule

OS MasterMap Water Network Layer is supplied to customers quarterly in January, April, July and October, incorporating any updates made by the revision programme.

Loading the data (GeoPackage format)

The product's Getting Started Guide focuses solely on using the product in Geography Markup Language (GML) format.

For guidance on using the product in GeoPackage format, please see theGetting started with GeoPackage guide.

Loading the data (vector tiles format)

The product's Getting Started Guide focuses solely on using the product in GML format.

For guidance on using the product in vector tiles format, please see the Getting Started with Vector Tiles guide.