ArcMap

These instructions are based on ArcMap version 10.8.1. and assume you have set the default coordinate reference system to British National Grid (EPSG 27700).

if your ArcMap is older than version 10.0, or if you do not have access to the Quick Import (Data Interoperability) extension, use the translation tools available in FME and QGIS to convert the GML data to shapefiles.

Loading and displaying the GML supply using the Quick Import tool

You can import GML data into ArcMap using the Quick Import tool that converts the GML into file geodatabase (.gdb).

Due to the large file size, some 5km tiles (especially within larger cities) may take time to process.

To load GML data into ArcMap:

1. Open ArcCatalog and click and (ArcToolbox icon) in top toolbar to open the ArcToolbox.

ArcMap ArcCatalog panel highlighting the ArcToolbox icon

1. In ArcToolbox, expand Data Interoperability Tools and click Quick Import.

ArcMap’s ArcToolbox showing Data Interoperability Tools > Quick Import option

1. In the Quick Import dialog, click … (next to the Input Dataset field), and navigate to and select your OS MasterMap Topography GML data.

ArcMap Quick Import dialog

1. In the Specify Data Source dialog:

   • Format: GML SF-0 (Geography Markup Language Simple Features Level SF-0 Profile) will be detected automatically.

   • Coord. System: Enter British_National_Grid or click … and select it in the dialog.

   • Click OK.

ArcMap Specify Data Source dialog

1. In the Quick Import dialog:

   • Output Staging Geodatabase field: Click (file browser icon), navigate to and name the file geodatabase (.gdb) folder, and click Save.

   • Click OK to start the Quick Import.

     

     ArcMap Quick Import dialog showing example input and output information

When the import process is complete, a message will display in ArcCatalog. To display the GML data in ArcMap:

1. Open an existing project or create a new one.

2. In the top toolbar, click (Add Data icon).

ArcMap UI showing Add Data action

1. In the Add Data dialog:

   • Navigate to the file geodatabase created in the previous procedure. If the relevant folder does not display, click (Connect to Folder icon) and navigate to the file geodatabase folder from there.
   • Select the layers you want to load. You can select multiple layers at the same time to save repeating these steps for each layer in the file geodatabase.

   • Click Add.

ArcMap Add Data dialog showing selected OSMM Topography Layer file geodatabase layers

Your geodatabase layers will now display in both the Table of Contents panel and the map area.

Loading and displaying shapefiles

As an alternative to using ArcMap’s Quick Import tool (previous section), you can convert your GML data to shapefile using FME and QGIS, and then add the shapefiles directly to ArcMap.

To load shapefiles into ArcMap

1. Open an existing project or create a new one.

2. In the top toolbar, click (Add Data icon).

ArcMap UI showing Add Data action

1. In the Add Data dialog:

   • Navigate to the shapefiles you want to load. If the relevant folder does not display, click (Connect to Folder icon) and navigate to the file geodatabase folder from there.

   • Select the shapefiles that you want to load. You can select multiple layers at the same time to save repeating these steps for each shapefile.

   • Click Add.

     

     ArcMap Add Data dialog showing selected OSMM Topography Layer shapefile layers

Your shapefiles will now appear in both the Table of Contents panel and the map area.

You may need to reorder the layers to see the data correctly. You can reorder layers using drag and drop. We recommend the following layer order: CartographicText, CartographicSymbol, TopographicPoint, BoundaryLine, TopographicLine and TopographicArea.

ArcMap Table Of Contents showing OSMM Topography Layer layers