Function and form

The green space specific attribution within this product consists of the form and function of the green space area.

Function

The functions included within OS MasterMap Greenspace Layer describe the purpose of the green space areas.

OS MasterMap Greenspace Layer includes the following functions:

• Allotments or Community Growing Spaces

• Amenity – Residential or Business

• Amenity – Transport

• Land Use Changing

• Bowling Green

• Camping or Caravan Park

• Cemetery

• Golf Course

• Institutional Grounds

• Natural

• Other Sports Facility

• Religious Grounds

• Play Space

• Playing Field

• Private Garden

• Public Park or Garden

• School Grounds

• Tennis Court

Detail and description of these functions can be found in the product's technical specification, which is available on the OS MasterMap Greenspace Layer Product Support page of the OS website.

Function hierarchy

The population of Primary Function and Secondary Function attributes is driven by a hierarchy. This hierarchy is applied to the data to determine which function is primary and secondary in cases where more than one function is applicable for a single topographic area polygon. Not every polygon will have more than one function due to the nature of the primary function, for example, cemeteries and allotments are not likely to have secondary functions. This hierarchy only applies where more than one function exists.

The hierarchy has been developed to ensure the process applies the appropriate functions and does not imply any level of priority.

This hierarchy is as follows:

1. Public Park or Garden

2. School Grounds

3. Institutional Grounds

4. Golf Course

5. Amenity – Residential or Business*

6. Amenity – Transport

7. Camping or Caravan Park

8. Religious Grounds

9. Cemetery

10. Private Garden

11. Playing Field

12. Other Sports Facility

13. Tennis Court

14. Allotments or Community Growing Spaces

15. Play Space

16. Bowling Green

17. Land Use Changing

18. Natural

*Due to the way Amenity – Residential or Business function is applied, it would not be expected to ever have a secondary function.

Detail on the functional hierarchy can be found in the Technical Specification.

Form

The forms included within OS MasterMap Greenspace Layer are:

• Woodland

• Open Semi-Natural

• Inland Water

• Beach or Foreshore

• Manmade Surface

• Multi Surface*

*While most polygons with this form will have a primary function of Private Gardens, this will not always be the case due to the function hierarchy.

Form hierarchy

Where more than one form value is applicable for a single topographic area polygon, the population of Primary Form and Secondary Form attributes is driven by a hierarchy. Not all polygons will have a form and this hierarchy only applies where more than one form exists.

The hierarchy has been developed to ensure the process applies the appropriate forms and does not imply any level of priority.

The form hierarchy is as follows:

1. Open Semi-Natural

2. Inland Water

3. Woodland

4. Beach or Foreshore*

5. Manmade Surface

6. Multi Surface

*Due to the way beach and foreshore polygons are located, areas with this form would not be expected to have a secondary form.