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Building

A new building geometry which represents a single building footprint. This geometry consists of adjoining building parts which have been determined to be part of the same building. When contained in a Land Use Site, adjoining building parts will be represented by a single feature.

Temporal filtering

The earliest and latest dates on which you can request a one-off snapshot of a date in the past for the data schema versions available for this feature type are detailed in the following table:

Data schema versionEarliest dateLatest date

1.0

27 September 2023

Ongoing

2.0

27 March 2024

Ongoing

3.0

25 September 2024

Ongoing

Please see Data schema versioning for more information about versioning in the OS NGD Buildings Theme.

Feature type attributes

The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included with this feature type, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.

osid

Primary identifier for the feature. The OSID is a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) and requires no centralised authority to ensure uniqueness. Note that the same OSID can occur in more than one feature type when a single feature is represented multiple times in the OS NGD.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

versiondate

Date when the version was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

versionavailablefromdate

The date this version of the feature became the latest version.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

versionavailabletodate

The date this version of the feature was superseded by an update or ceased to exist.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

changetype

The type of change that generated a new version of the feature.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Code List Name: changetypevalue

  • Max Length: 50

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

geometry

Geometry for the feature.

  • Data Types: Geometry (GeoJSON), Geometry (GPKG), WKT (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

  • Geometry Type: Polygon

geometry_area_m2

The measured area of the geometry in square metres.

  • Data Types: Number (GeoJSON), Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Precision: 15

  • Scale: 3

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

geometry_updatedate

Date when the attribute was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

theme

The OS NGD theme to which the feature belongs.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Code List Name: themevalue

  • Max Length: 40

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

description

A single descriptive value intended for a quick understanding of what the feature represents.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Code List Name: buildingdescriptionvalue

  • Max Length: 45

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

description_updatedate

Date when the description was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingpartcount

Count of building parts within the building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

isinsite

Flag to indicate whether the building is within a Land Use Site.

  • Data Types: Boolean (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

primarysiteid (formerly primarysite_id)

This attribute was called primarysite_id in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed primarysiteid from version 3.0 onward.

Identifier of the primary site associated with the building. The primary site is the smallest site which contains the building feature.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

containingsitecount

Count of sites that the building is contained within.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

mainbuildingid (formerly mainbuilding_id)

This attribute was called mainbuilding_id in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed mainbuildingid from version 3.0 onward.

Populated if the feature is not the main building. Can be used to identify the main building within the same site.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

mainbuildingid_ismainbuilding (formerly ismainbuilding)

This attribute was called ismainbuilding in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed mainbuildingid_ismainbuilding from version 3.0 onward.

Flag to indicate whether the building is the primary building within the site. This has been captured by OS surveyors as the most normal building a casual visitor would report to within the Land Use Site.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: yesnovalue

  • Max Length: 5

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

mainbuildingid_updatedate (formerly mainbuilding_updatedate)

This attribute was called mainbuilding_updatedate in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed mainbuildingid_updatedate from version 3.0 onward.

Date when the main building was updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse

Describes what the Building is used for and can have up to two values. The value will be 'Mixed Use' where more than two uses are identified.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Code List Name: buildingusevalue

  • Max Length: 100

  • Multiplicity: [1..2]

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_oslandusetiera (formerly oslandusetiera)

This attribute was called oslandusetiera in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed buildinguse_oslandusetiera from version 3.0 onward.

A high-level description of the main activity that takes place at the location or that the feature supports.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: landusetieravalue

  • Max Length: 50

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_addresscount_total (formerly addresscount_total)

This attribute was called addresscount_total in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed buildinguse_addresscount_total from version 3.0 onward.

Total count of built in-use address UPRNs associated with the building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_addresscount_residential (formerly addresscount_residential)

This attribute was called addresscount_residential in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed buildinguse_addresscount_residential from version 3.0 onward.

Count of residential built in-use address UPRNs associated with the building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_addresscount_commercial (formerly addresscount_commercial)

This attribute was called addresscount_commercial in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed buildinguse_addresscount_commercial from version 3.0 onward.

Count of commercial built in-use address UPRNs associated with the building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_addresscount_other (formerly addresscount_other)

This attribute was called addresscount_other in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed buildinguse_addresscount_other from version 3.0 onward.

Count of other (not residential or commercial) built in-use address UPRNs associated with the building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildinguse_updatedate

Date when the building use was updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

connectivity

Describes how the building is connected to other buildings.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Code List Name: buildingconnectivitytypevalue

  • Max Length: 15

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

connectivity_count (formerly connectivitycount)

This attribute was called connectivitycount in data schema versions 1.0 and 2.0, and was renamed connectivity_count from version 3.0 onward.

Count of connected buildings.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

connectivity_updatedate

Date when the building connectivity was updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial

The primary material from which the building is constructed. Construction material is recorded for addressable buildings. It may be recorded for some non-addressable buildings, but the majority of these will have construction material recorded as NULL.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: constructionmaterialvalue

  • Max Length: 40

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial_evidencedate

The date on which the latest evidence was gathered to make an update if required. For example, the date of collection by a surveyor or third party information received.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial_updatedate

Date when the construction material was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial_source

Indicates the data source of the construction material.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: constructionmaterialsourcevalue

  • Max Length: 85

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial_capturemethod

The capture method describes how the construction material was created, for example, via remote survey or via an automated process.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: capturemethodvalue

  • Max Length: 25

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

constructionmaterial_thirdpartyprovenance

The provenance of the construction material provided by the third party data provider, for example, the name of an organisation and the specific dataset provided by that organisation.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 65

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_period

The period (i.e. a range of years) in which the building was constructed. Construction period is recorded for addressable buildings. It may be recorded for some non-addressable buildings, but the majority of these will have construction period recorded as NULL.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: buildingageperiodvalue

  • Max Length: 10

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_year

The year in which the building was constructed, for buildings constructed post-1999 and where available.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_evidencedate

The date on which the latest evidence was gathered to make an update if required. For example, the date of collection by a surveyor or third party information received.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_updatedate

Date when the building age was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_source

Indicates the data source of the building age.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: buildingagesourcevalue

  • Max Length: 85

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_capturemethod

The capture method describes how the building age was created, for example, via remote survey or via an automated process.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: capturemethodvalue

  • Max Length: 25

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

buildingage_thirdpartyprovenance

The provenance of the building age provided by the third party data provider, for example, the name of an organisation and the specific dataset provided by that organisation.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 65

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence

Indicates if a basement is present in the building. Basement presence is recorded for addressable buildings. It may be recorded for some non-addressable buildings, but the majority of these will have basement presence recorded as NULL.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: presencevalue

  • Max Length: 15

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_selfcontained

Indicates if the basement contains a self-contained flat.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: presencevalue

  • Max Length: 15

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_evidencedate

The date on which the latest evidence was gathered to make an update if required. For example, the date of collection by a surveyor or third party information received.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_updatedate

Date when the basement presence was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_source

Indicates the data source of the basement presence.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: basementpresencesourcevalue

  • Max Length: 85

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_capturemethod

The capture method describes how the basement presence was created, for example, via remote survey or via an automated process.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: capturemethodvalue

  • Max Length: 25

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

basementpresence_thirdpartyprovenance

The provenance of the basement presence provided by the third party data provider, for example, the name of an organisation and the specific dataset provided by that organisation.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 65

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 2.0, 3.0

🆕 numberoffloors

The maximum number of occupiable floors at or above ground level within a building.

  • Data Types: Integer (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: Yes

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

🆕 numberoffloors_evidencedate

The date on which the latest evidence was gathered to make an update if required. For example, the date of collection by a surveyor or third party information received.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

🆕 numberoffloors_updatedate

Date when the number of floors was last updated.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

🆕 numberoffloors_source

Indicates the data source of the number of floors. For buildings with a populated number of floors value, this can be either 'Ordnance Survey' or 'Energy Performance Certificate Authority'.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Max Length: 40

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

🆕 numberoffloors_capturemethod

The capture method describes how the number of floors was created, for example, via remote sensing survey or via an automated process.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: true

  • Code List Name: capturemethodvalue

  • Max Length: 25

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 3.0

Site Reference

A cross reference table mapping Building to Site. The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included in this cross reference table, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.

siteid

The identifier of the site the Building is within.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingid

The identifier of the Building.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingversiondate

The date this version of the feature entered the OS National Geographic Database.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

Building Part Reference

A cross reference table mapping Building to Building Part. The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included in this cross reference table, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.

buildingpartid

The identifier of the Building Part the Building is created from.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingid

The identifier of the Building.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingversiondate

The date this version of the feature entered the OS National Geographic Database.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

UPRN Reference

A cross reference table mapping Address to Building. The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included in this cross reference table, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.

uprn

The identifier of the addressable feature that is located within the Building.

  • Data Types: Number (GeoJSON), Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingid

The identifier of the Building.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • Max Length: 36

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

buildingversiondate

The date this version of the feature entered the OS National Geographic Database.

  • Data Types: String (GeoJSON), Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)

  • Nullable: false

  • OS NGD API – Features Filterable: No

  • OS Select+Build Filterable: No

  • Data Schema Version: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

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