OS MasterMap Sites Layer Overview

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

OS MasterMap Sites Layer provides a nationally maintained view of the detailed extents of important locations such as airports, schools, hospitals, utility and infrastructure sites, and more. The points of access and routing points, to navigate in and out of the sites, are also provided.

All the source data that is used in the creation of OS MasterMap Topography Layer has information about its function or purpose, and the Sites Layer is intended to enhance analytical use of this information.

OS MasterMap Sites Layer features are a representation of what people see in the real world, where the common view of something (such as a school) is not the address, the main building or the playing fields, but is the site as a whole.

The features are derived from Ordnance Survey’s detailed data content; therefore, the classification and grouping of features is dependent upon the source data capture specification.

Purpose

Many customers want to be able to answer a simple question, for example, ‘How close is this school to something?’, ‘What would be affected in the event of an emergency?’ or ‘How much of this hospital would flood?’

OS MasterMap Sites Layer creates a way for customers to easily answer these questions. It helps customers start using Ordnance Survey’s large-scale data in a more analytical manner.

The provision of ‘form and function’ information in OS MasterMap Sites Layer for risk modelling, business analysis and informed decision-making enables the use of intelligence sourced from OS MasterMap Topography Layer for applications such as data analytics. The product will help customers start the journey to a more analytical use of OS MasterMap Topography Layer and would provide closer integration with OS MasterMap Highways Network and AddressBase product families.

It is important to note that the OS MasterMap Sites Layer product does not indicate the definitive or legal extent, but rather the extent of usage or function.

Product applications

The following table outlines the potential benefits of OS MasterMap Sites Layer for different customer groups:

Customer sector	Benefit of using OS MasterMap Sites Layer	Outcome for customer
Energy and Infrastructure	Improved risk management of key assets and better risk planning. Intelligence on which access point is impacted whilst dealing with a call-out.	More accurate risk analysis. Reduction in costs of maintenance planning and responding to call-outs. A better understanding of the wider geographic perspective; for example, how assets are interacting with specific types of sites (for example, schools).
Insurance	More intelligent risk models. Better identification of areas where an insurer is exposed to accumulated risk or risk to their client’s assets.	More effective identification and modelling, using the extents of real-world features in understanding their vulnerability to natural hazards. Accurate premiums reflecting true risk.
Central and local government	Ability to identify and manage public assets holistically, breaking down the administrative or ownership barriers to achieve more efficient use of publicly owned assets and to provide better services to citizens. Improved understanding of the extent and function of a site and the contribution it may make to social, economic or environmental health of the area.	Reduced costs of capture and maintenance, improved efficiency in decision-making and the ability to effectively implement and monitor government policy. Nationally consistent view of sites, providing core reference geographies, thus enabling data sharing between government departments.
Emergency services	Ability to respond more efficiently or deploy resources more effectively to emergencies. Identification of the more appropriate access point into that site, and the best route to navigate to them. Provision of a common operational picture, thus improving inter-agency communication.	Better information to feed into risk assessments, contingency planning, incident prevention and first response.

Product update schedule

The product data is maintained alongside other Ordnance Survey large-scale content in an integrated edit environment. This will ensure that any relevant real-world change is updated in all relevant OS MasterMap Layers at the same time.

The product is updated every six months (April and October) as a full supply only.