# OS VectorMap District Documentation

OS VectorMap District is a simple vector dataset with a nominal scale of 1:25 000 covering the whole of Great Britain that has been designed for creating graphical mapping. The product can be used as mapping in its own right or can be used to provide a flexible geographic context reference for customers’ overlay information.

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**This product is updated every six months in May and November.**
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<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fz8Q8fjjVjgbzQQEZ7UnF%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3f8417e7-8324-46b7-b4e9-a36935d1299e" alt="OS VectorMap District map showing the area surrounding Hackney on a 1:25 000 scale map of Great Britain"><figcaption><p>OS VectorMap District map showing the area surrounding Hackney</p></figcaption></figure>

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{% tab title="Benefits" %}
**Style your map to highlight what matters to you**

OS VectorMap District is great if your map needs a custom look. Or use our free stylesheets if you prefer consistency.

**Display the map layers you need**

Show enough detail to give the lie of the land while avoiding overwhelming detail. OS VectorMap District lets you display just the map layers you need.

**Raster versions also available**

OS VectorMap District comes in two raster (flat image) versions: full-colour (good for print-outs) and backdrop (better as a backdrop for your analysis). They’re a quick way to get started with OS VectorMap District.
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{% tab title="Use Cases" %}
The purpose of OS VectorMap District data is to support a wide range of customer applications that utilise geographic information. These may include:

* Backdrop mapping on your website.
* Interactive web application development.
* Displaying your business location.
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{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)
* **Data theme:** Contextual
* **Data structure:** Vector (Points, Lines, Polygons, Text)
* **Coverage:** Great Britain
* **Scale:** 1:15 000 to 1:30 000
* **Format:** GeoTIFF
* **Tile count:** 2 863 (2 733 sea tiles)
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain or customisable area (100km² tiles)
* **Publication months:** May, November
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{% tab title="Tile locator" %}

#### **Tile locator**

<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FIDq5mqdAWZ7dswiTUR7h%2FVMD_OpenDataTileLocator.png?alt=media&#x26;token=163f4731-0a04-4b42-8404-773ba2f80cff" alt="OS Open Data tile locator map showing the approximate tile coverage for Open Data tiles."><figcaption><p>OS VectorMap District tile guide</p></figcaption></figure>

When you order OS VectorMap District, you will be asked to order a 100km area (shown above) broken down into 10km tiles. To help you know which tiles you will need to access, we have created a PDF document for each 100km tile of data in the National Grid showing the 10km tile grids contained within each tile.

The OS VectorMap District tile guide image shows the 100km area covered by each tile, the PDF document will show the location of each 10km tile within the 100km square selected. The complete set of PDF documents covering Great Britain are available to download from the Ordnance Survey file share:

{% embed url="<https://filecloud.os.uk/ui/core/index.html?mode=public&referrer=%2Furl%2Ftile-locator#expl-tabl./SHARED/%219rz5jlrU5218RaaPQvOsBwO/tile-locator>" %}
Open Data tile locator PDF documents for OS VectorMap District
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## How to get this product

Access to this OS OpenData product is free [through the OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/data/downloads/open/VectorMapDistrict).

## Sample data

### Visualise OS VectorMap District sample data online

This product is available to try out free online using one of our three sets of sample data (Exeter, Newport and Inverness) through the OS MasterMap Product Viewer:

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS MasterMap Product Viewer</strong></td><td>Interactive demonstrator of OS MasterMap Generation data</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap Local product data over an urban area."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fuld7V42IKrB8ovpC1JXB%2FVectorMap-Local-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cb3e8ae9-d669-4bc9-b7a7-5f479d780447">VectorMap-Local-1.png</a></td><td><a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## What's next?

To access additional documentation and resources relating to this product, please refer to the following:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><h4>Overview</h4></td><td>The overview contains additional theoretical information related to OS VectorMap District. All users will find the Product Information document useful and informative.</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap District product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FG29s698TrnQnMazgssyh%2FVectorMap-District-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=22889d62-084c-4787-b0d0-19c1afce9fcd">VectorMap-District-1.png</a></td><td><a href="os-vectormap-district/os-vectormap-district-overview">os-vectormap-district-overview</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Technical Specification</h4></td><td>The technical specification provides detailed technical information about OS VectorMap District. It is targeted at technical users and software developers.</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap District product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FOx50VkHTC6tqT9gywauk%2FVectorMap-District-2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=bd68b7e7-7fcc-4803-9cfb-90f9b7fad0cc">VectorMap-District-2.png</a></td><td><a href="os-vectormap-district/os-vectormap-district-technical-specification">os-vectormap-district-technical-specification</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Vector Simple Guide</h4></td><td>The vector simple guide provides an introduction to downloading and using vector data for users with no previous knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS).</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap District product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FwF3FAij9CeSfHdoUiqoT%2FVectorMap-District-3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=66bc63de-c05e-4bae-8bdf-ae2f1c6c7957">VectorMap-District-3.png</a></td><td><a href="os-vectormap-district/vector-simple-guide">vector-simple-guide</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Raster Simple Guide</h4></td><td>The raster simple guide provides an introduction to downloading and using raster data for users with no previous knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS).</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap District product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FNUyrAPdMDwcT0FreFbkU%2FVectorMap-District-4.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d25a1456-5580-4a28-9ef1-b8002f837ae6">VectorMap-District-4.png</a></td><td><a href="os-vectormap-district/raster-simple-guide">raster-simple-guide</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Downloads</h4></td><td>The downloads page provides links and resources to support the application of OS VectorMap District within your environment.</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap District product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FWZ75O7xZQIZAZIW4Lshd%2FVectorMap-District-5.png?alt=media&#x26;token=953b5928-2db6-4c44-95ea-182e2b0c901c">VectorMap-District-5.png</a></td><td><a href="os-vectormap-district/os-vectormap-district-downloads">os-vectormap-district-downloads</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Ordnance Survey Website</h4></td><td>View OS VectorMap District product information and find out how to get this product on the OS website.</td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-vectormap-district">https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-vectormap-district</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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New users should start with the Overview to gain high-level insight into the product. The Technical Specification contains detailed technical insights.
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