# WatercourseLink

The WatercourseLink feature is a generalised representation of the watercourse alignment. WatercourseLink features are split where their real-world related attribution changes or where they meet to form a junction.

## WatercourseLink attributes

A segment that forms part of a watercourse.

### flowDirection «voidable»

Direction of water flow in the segment relative to digitisation of segment geometry.

* **Attribute name:** flowDirection (GML), flow\_direction (VectorTiles), flow\_direction (GeoPackage), flow (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** [LinkDirectionValue](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/networks/os-open-rivers/os-open-rivers-technical-specification/code-lists/linkdirectionvalue)
* **Multiplicity:** \[1]

### length «voidable»

Length of network segment.

* **Attribute name:** length (GML), length (VectorTiles), length (GeoPackage), length (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** Length
* **Multiplicity:** \[1]

### centrelineGeometry

The geometry that represents the centreline of the link.

* **Attribute name:** centrelineGeometry (GML), Not provided (VectorTiles), Not provided (GeoPackage), Not provided (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** GM\_Curve
* **Multiplicity:** \[1]

### fictitious

Indicator that the centreline geometry of the link is a straight line with no intermediate control points – unless the straight line represents the geography in the resolution of the data set appropriately.

* **Attribute name:** centrelineGeometry (GML), Not provided (VectorTiles), Not provided (GeoPackage), Not provided (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** Boolean
* **Multiplicity:** \[1]

### form «voidable»

Classification of the type of watercourse that is formed by the WatercourseLink.

* **Attribute name:** form (GML), form (VectorTiles), form (GeoPackage), form (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** [WatercourseFormValue](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/networks/os-open-rivers/os-open-rivers-technical-specification/code-lists/watercourseformvalue)
* **Multiplicity:** \[1]

### watercourseName

Recognised name assigned to the watercourse.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
The language used to define the name shall also be provided as a three-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng', 'cym' 'gla'). Note 2: Where a watercourse has a name in more than one language, this attribute will be the Welsh or Gaelic version.
{% endhint %}

* **Attribute name:** watercourseName (GML), watercourse\_name (VectorTiles), watercourse\_name (GeoPackage), name1 (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** LocalisedCharacterString
* **Multiplicity:** \[0..1]

### watercourseNameAlternative

An alternative name of the main watercourse the link is part of. Note 1: The language used to define the name shall also be provided as a three-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng', 'cym' 'gla').&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
Where a watercourse has a name in more than one language, this attribute will be the English version.
{% endhint %}

* **Attribute name:** watercourseNameAlternative (GML), watercourse\_name\_alternative (VectorTiles), watercourse\_name\_alternative (GeoPackage), name2 (Esri shapefile)
* **Type:** LocalisedCharacterString
* **Multiplicity:** \[0..1]

### startNode

The HydroNode coincident with the first vertex for this WatercourseLink.

* **Attribute name:** startNode (GML), Not provided (VectorTiles), start\_node (GeoPackage), startNode (Esri shapefile)
* **Multiplicity:** \[0..1]

### endNode

The HydroNode coincident with the last vertex for this WatercourseLink. On very rare occasions, the end HydroNode may be the same instance as the start HydroNode.

* **Attribute name:** endNode (GML), Not provided (VectorTiles), end\_node (GeoPackage), endNode (Esri shapefile)
* **Multiplicity:** \[0..1]
