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Accessing OS NGD data with OS NGD API – Tiles via QGIS

QGIS is an open GIS (Geospatial Information System) desktop application that allows you to display, interrogate, visualise and create geospatial information including from geo-centric APIs (for example, a Vector Tiles Service).

The instructions that follow demonstrate how to connect to OS NGD API – Tiles using QGIS.

What you'll need

QGIS currently only supports the EPSG: 3857 version of the tiles. You will however be able to transform the API using a dynamic coordinate transformation into EPSG: 27700 (allowing you to use the vector tile service alongside your British National Grid data).

Instructions

1

Set up a new connection

Once a new project with a base map map has been set up, select Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Tile Layer.

QGIS Add Vector Tile Layer option.
QGIS Add Vector Tile Layer option.
2

Create a new connection

In the Data Source Manager | Vector Tile dialog:

  • Click New

  • Select New Generic Connection...

QGIS Data Source Manager | Vector Tile dialog.

In the Vector Tiles Connection dialog:

  • Name: Provide a name for the connection.

  • URL: Input the Retrieve Tile request URL for the OS NGD API – Tiles collection.

  • Min. Zoom Level: Minimum zoom = 6.

  • Max. Zoom Level: Maximum zoom = 19.

  • Style URL: Input your selected style request URL (you can view the available styles at GET /collections/{collectionId}/styles).

  • Authentication: Leave these settings at their defaults.

  • Other: Leave all other settings at their defaults.

  • Click OK.

The following are some example URLs to retrieve the ngd-base collection:

Options for {styleId} are:

  • 3857: Our traditional outdoor style focusing on spaces.

  • road-3857: Our road style focusing on the transport network.

  • light-3875: Our light style perfect for overlaying data.

  • blackwhite-3857: Our high contrast basemap perfect for overlaying data.

Please note: Style URL does not require you to append your API Key as a query parameter.

To learn more about the available collections in OS NGD API – Tiles (e.g. asu-bdy) you can view what data is available here.

QGIS New Vector Tile Connection dialog filled in
QGIS Vector Tiles Connection dialog.

You will need to replace the /{tileMatrix}/{tileRow}/{tileCol} used in the default Retrieve Tile request URL with /{z}/{y}/{x} to be able to connect to OS NGD API – Tiles.

3

Add layer

Navigate to Layer > Data Source Manager > Vector Tile.

In the Data Source Manager | Vector Tile dialog:

  • Select your new connection to OS NGD API – Tiles

  • Click Add.

The layer will then display in the Layers panel and the data will display on the map:

UI showing OS NGD API – Tiles data in the Layers panel and map area.
QGIS UI showing OS NGD API – Tiles data in the Layers panel and map area.
4

Add a custom style

You can change the style of features and labels directly in QGIS by right-clicking on the API in the Layers Panel and going to Properties.

If you have a custom style JSON file that you have created in software such as Maputnik, you can use this in QGIS. You will need to host the JSON file before using it (e.g. on GitHub) and then use the resource URL as your 'Style URL' when setting up your API connection.

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