OS NGD Documentation

Welcome to OS NGD documentation! Here you can learn how to get started using OS NGD data via OS Select+Build and the OS NGD APIs.

What is the OS NGD?

The OS National Geographic Database (OS NGD) contains authoritative data that describes the geography of Great Britain. It delivers improved data structures, increased currency of data supply and enhanced metadata.

There are two access methods for OS NGD data:

• OS Select+Build

• OS NGD APIs

OS Select+Build and OS NGD APIs YouTube video.

What's available on this site?

This self-serve site is where you will find documentation to help you get started using OS NGD data via the download service of OS Select+Build and the two OS NGD APIs. Using the navigation panel on the left-hand-side of the screen, you can select and view pages of interest, including OS NGD core principles; getting started information and guides for accessing OS Select+Build and the APIs; key benefits to customers; webinars, tutorials and case studies; product announcements, a product viewer tool, FAQs, known data issues, detailed information about the data structure and code lists, and planned future enhancements.

Who can access the OS NGD?

OS Select+Build and the OS NGD APIs are available to Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) Members and OS Partners. To get access to the OS NGD you must first log into the OS Data Hub. The OS NGD will be accessible via both the Premium Plan and Public Sector Plan on the OS Data Hub.

The Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) sets out how Ordnance Survey (OS) provides world-leading location data and expertise to the public sector across Britain. It supports the delivery of critical infrastructure and services, as well as working to help protect our environment. 

Find out more about the PSGA by visiting the OS website, including the benefits of joining, instructions on how to access OS data, success stories, support, registration process information and instructions, and a PSGA Member finder tool to check if your organisation is already a member.

Overview of the OS NGD data structure

OS NGD data structure: themes, collections, feature types and features.

OS NGD data has been categorised to make it easier for you to discover the data you need:

• The data is structured into nine themes of related items: Address, Administrative and Statistical Units, Buildings, Geographical Names, Land, Land Use, Structures, Transport, and Water.

The nine OS NGD data themes.

• Each theme is made up of one or more collections, which in turn have feature types.

• Feature types are the most granular level, with objects grouped by geometry or classification.

Explore OS NGD data

Find out more about OS NGD data in the Data Structure pages, which are specifically focussed on the data in different OS NGD themes, collections and feature types:

OS NGD Address

OS NGD Administrative and Statistical Units

OS NGD Buildings

OS NGD Geographical Names

OS NGD Land

OS NGD Land Use

OS NGD Structures

OS NGD Transport

OS NGD Water

The OS NGD Product Viewer Tool is a great way to explore and visualise OS NGD sample data online for three areas (Exeter, Newport and Inverness) in Great Britain.