# OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths Documentation

A path network dataset for Great Britain showing who is responsible for all the footpaths through towns and cities. The dataset helps you understand how people connect to towns and cities around them. You will see the true time it takes for the citizen to access existing services – as well as the new services required in the community.

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**This product is updated monthly.**
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<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FqQ4waFUwMTl6Om330YFH%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=00e90823-6490-4c32-8fbe-ae29a50c3f64" alt="OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths data showing footpaths around a river on a map"><figcaption><p>OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths data.</p></figcaption></figure>

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**Comprehensive and definite**

OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths is a collection of data from authoritative sources who manage and maintain the Path network across Great Britain. This includes OS path network geometry and features the local highways and roads authorities’ name, numbering and maintenance responsibility information.

**Optimised navigation**

Make more informed decisions about best mode of transport to deliver your package. Get an understanding of the entire navigable network and you could end up squeezing more deliveries into your day.

**Deeper path insights**

Want to find out where best to place your assets? Get another aspect with information about the authoritative background of a path, as well as any obstructions you might encounter along the route.

**Changing travel behaviours**

By making the path network better known, you can encourage healthier alternatives to car travel. Use to maintain paths more effectively, and let mobile navigation apps deliver suggested routes to users on the move.

**Linking streets to homes and infrastructure**

Thanks to the Unique Street Reference Number (USRN), this data links to [AddressBase](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/addressbase). So, you can search for or navigate to an address, improve consultation with residents about roadworks, and identify installations like electricity substations

**Optimise walking and cycling**

By improving the path network and making it better known, you can encourage healthier alternatives to car travel. Paths data helps local authorities maintain paths more effectively, and it lets mobile navigation apps deliver suggested routes to users on the move.
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OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths can be used for:

* Costings or benefits of road and paths policies
* Calculating funding allocations
* Policy making and asset management
* Journey planning, routing, and navigation
* Emergency service planning
* Transport planning
* Delivery
* Enforcement regulation
* School allocation
* Sustainable travel
* Planned works
* Projects on the resilience of infrastructure
* Smart cities
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{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)
* **Category**: Networks
* **Data theme:** Transport
* **Data Structure:** Vector – Topologically structured link and node network
* **Update frequency:** Monthly
* **Coverage:** Great Britain
* **Scale:** 1:1 250 to 1:10 000
* **Format:** Vector tiles, GML 3.2.1, GeoPackage
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain or customisable area (user-defined polygon)
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## How to get this product

Access to this product is free for PSGA (Public Sector Geospatial Agreement) Members. You can [check if your organisation is a member of the PSGA on the OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/customers/public-sector/psga-member-finder).

The [OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths product page on the OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths) has advice on how to get the product for businesses, developers, OS Partners and PSGA Members (i.e. government and the public sector).

## Sample data <a href="#sample-data" id="sample-data"></a>

### Download OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths sample data <a href="#download-os-egs-sample-data" id="download-os-egs-sample-data"></a>

You can download sample data for the product for free from the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/data/downloads/sample/HNPATH). The sample data is available in GML 3.2 format and covers one area (Exeter).

### Visualise OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths 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>

## Other ways to access this data

OS MasterMap Highways Network data is available through our [OS Features API](https://docs.os.uk/os-apis/accessing-os-apis/os-features-api), providing location-based insights combining topography data with buildings, transport, and water layer data to create detailed datasets with a high degree of accuracy. [Visit the OS API docs site](https://docs.os.uk/os-apis) to unlock programmatic access to rich geospatial data and integrate OS data and services into your applications.

Access to OS MasterMap Highways Network data is also available through the [OS NGD Transport Theme](https://docs.os.uk/osngd/data-structure/transport), providing data that is interoperable with other OS NGD themes, improved data structures, and a data schema designed to be simple to use and interrogate. Users may find OS NGD Transport Theme data more accessible and easier to use with databases and GIS software. [Visit the OS NGD docs site](https://docs.os.uk/osngd) to discover how to access the OS NGD and learn what's available to users.

## 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 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>OS MasterMap Highways Network Product Family</h4></td><td>This page gives context and information about the three products which make up the OS MasterMap Highways Network 'family' of products, giving a high-level summary of each product.</td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths 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%2F6UOjF5TusKPm7oMM7IvE%2FHighways-Network-Paths-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7033aca7-99bf-4b0e-977c-89abbf5f7073">Highways-Network-Paths-1.png</a></td><td><a href="os-mastermap-highways-network-fundamentals/os-mastermap-highways-network-product-family">os-mastermap-highways-network-product-family</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Overview</h4></td><td>The overview introduces OS MasterMap Highways Network products and gives context for all users – highlighting key features and potential uses, and listing supply formats, currency, etc.</td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths 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%2Fpv0g0fD7ww6hOFv6zYa7%2FHighways-Network-Paths-2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=76d9d0a8-ab7a-42fc-9a17-2f78de899e80">Highways-Network-Paths-2.png</a></td><td><a href="os-mastermap-highways-network-fundamentals/os-mastermap-highways-network-overview">os-mastermap-highways-network-overview</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Getting Started Guide</h4></td><td>The getting started guide provides instructions for using OS MasterMap Highways Network in different software applications. Users with limited technical knowledge will be able to follow this guide.</td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths 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%2FPYIEhBB8jEc3HIvaqSBB%2FHighways-Network-Paths-3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3e401dfb-00d8-415a-9497-784e738a8451">Highways-Network-Paths-3.png</a></td><td><a href="os-mastermap-highways-network-fundamentals/os-mastermap-highways-network-getting-started-guide">os-mastermap-highways-network-getting-started-guide</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Technical Specification</h4></td><td>The technical specification provides detailed technical information about OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths. It is targeted at technical users and software developers.</td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths 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%2FsSKUQjSX8iJM7P9LS5f0%2FHighways-Network-Paths-3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=471283a8-5201-4b4d-bd55-d1ece273664c">Highways-Network-Paths-3.png</a></td><td><a href="https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/networks/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths-technical-specification">https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/networks/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths-technical-specification</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Downloads</h4></td><td>The downloads page provides links and resources to support the application of OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths within your environment.</td><td></td><td><a href="https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/networks/os-mastermap-highways-network-core-principles/os-mastermap-highways-network-downloads">https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/networks/os-mastermap-highways-network-core-principles/os-mastermap-highways-network-downloads</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Ordnance Survey Website</h4></td><td>View OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths product information and find out how to get this product on the OS website.</td><td></td><td><a href="https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths">https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-mastermap-highways-network-paths</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 Getting Started Guide will help you to begin using product data in different software systems. The Technical Specification contains detailed technical insights.
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