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  • INTRODUCTION TO OS NGD
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  • GETTING STARTED
    • OS NGD Fundamentals
      • Terminology and access
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      • Coordinate reference systems
      • Attribute information for feature types
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  • ACCESSING OS NGD
    • Downloading with OS Select+Build
      • Getting Started with GeoPackage
        • ArcGIS Pro
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      • Getting Started with CSV
        • Loading CSV files
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    • Accessing OS NGD APIs
      • Getting started with an API project
      • OS NGD API – Features
        • What data is available?
        • Technical Specification
          • Landing page
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          • Collections
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        • Getting Started
          • GIS Software
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      • OS NGD API – Tiles
        • What data is available?
        • Zoom Levels
        • Technical Specification
          • Landing page
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          • Collection
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          • Tiles
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  • OS NGD NEWS
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  • Data and Service Status
    • Data and Service Status Information
  • 🆕Live Service Disruption and Planned Maintenance
  • Current Known Data Issues
  • 🆕Resolved Data Issues
  • USING OS NGD DATA
    • OS NGD Buildings
      • Building Feature Type
      • How Building data is created
      • Building attribution
      • Known limitations
      • Summary
    • OS NGD Structures
      • Field Boundary
        • Field Boundary Feature Type
        • How Field Boundary data is created
        • Field Boundary attribution
        • Known limitations
        • Summary
    • OS NGD Transport
      • Pavements
        • Pavement polygons
        • Pavement attribution
        • Pavement Link feature type
      • Trams
        • Tram attribution on Road Link
        • Tram On Road Feature Type
        • Trams in the Rail Network
      • Street Light
        • Known limitations
    • OS NGD Land Cover Enhancements
      • Introduction
      • Habitat mapping
      • Percentage coverage
      • Cross reference table
      • Known limitations
      • Summary
    • Data Catalogue
  • DATA STRUCTURE
    • OS NGD Address
      • GB Address
        • Built Address
        • Historic Address
        • Non-Addressable Object
        • Pre-Build Address
        • Street Address
      • Islands Address
        • Built Address
        • Historic Address
        • Non-Addressable Object
        • Pre-Build Address
        • Street Address
      • Related Components
        • Alternate Address
        • Postal Address
        • Other Classification
        • Related Entity
      • Versioning information
      • GB Address Local Custodian Codes
      • Islands Address Local Custodian Codes
    • OS NGD Administrative and Statistical Units
      • Boundaries
        • Boundary High Water Mark
        • Ceremonial County
        • Country
        • Devolved Parliament Constituency
        • Devolved Parliament Electoral Region
        • Electoral Division
        • GLA Assembly Constituency
        • Historic County
        • Historic European Region
        • Lower Tier Local Authority
        • Parish Or Community
        • Polling District
        • Region
        • Regional Authority
        • Upper Tier Local Authority
        • Ward
        • Westminster Constituency
    • OS NGD Buildings
      • Building Features
        • Building
        • 🆕Building Access Location
        • Building Line
        • Building Part
    • OS NGD Geographical Names
      • Named Features
        • 🆕Crowd Sourced Name Point
        • Named Area
        • Named Point
        • Named Road Junction
    • OS NGD Land
      • Land Features
        • Land
        • Land Point
        • Landform
        • Landform Line
        • Landform Point
    • OS NGD Land Use
      • Land Use Features
        • Site
        • Site Access Location
        • ❌Site Routing Point
    • OS NGD Structures
      • Structure Features
        • Compound Structure
        • Field Boundary
        • Structure
        • Structure Line
        • Structure Point
    • OS NGD Transport
      • Routing and Asset Management Information (RAMI)
        • Average And Indicative Speed
        • Highway Dedication
        • Maintenance Area
        • Maintenance Line
        • Maintenance Point
        • Reinstatement Area
        • Reinstatement Line
        • Reinstatement Point
        • Restriction
        • Routing Hazard
        • Routing Structure
        • Special Designation Area
        • Special Designation Line
        • Special Designation Point
      • Transport Features
        • Cartographic Rail Detail
        • Rail
        • Road Line
        • Road Track Or Path
        • 🆕Street Light
      • Transport Network
        • Connecting Link
        • Connecting Node
        • Ferry Link
        • Ferry Node
        • Ferry Terminal
        • Path
        • Path Link
        • Path Node
        • Pavement Link
        • Railway Link
        • Railway Link Set
        • Railway Node
        • Road
        • Road Junction
        • Road Link
        • Road Node
        • Street
        • Tram On Road
    • OS NGD Water
      • Water Features
        • Inter Tidal Line
        • River Basin District Catchment
        • Tidal Boundary
        • Water
        • Water Point
        • Waterbody Catchment
      • Water Network
        • Water Link
        • Water Link Set
        • Water Node
  • Code Lists
    • Code Lists Overview
      • accesstypevalue
      • 🆕accesslevelvalue
      • 🆕accessmodevalue
      • 🆕accessobstructionvalue
      • 🆕accesspurposevalue
      • addressbasepostalvalue
      • addressclassificationsourcevalue
      • addressdescriptionvalue
      • addressstatusvalue
      • addressstreettypevalue
      • associatedstreetdatadescriptionvalue
      • averageandindicativespeeddescriptionvalue
      • basementpresencesourcevalue
      • boundaryhighwatermarkdescriptionvalue
      • boundarytypevalue
      • 🆕buildingaccesslocationdescriptionvalue
      • buildingageperiodvalue
      • buildingagesourcevalue
      • buildingconnectivitytypevalue
      • buildingdescriptionvalue
      • buildinglinedescriptionvalue
      • buildingpartdescriptionvalue
      • buildingpartoslandcovertieravalue
      • buildingpartoslandcovertierbvalue
      • buildingusevalue
      • buildstatusvalue
      • builtstructureheightconfidencevalue
      • capturemethodvalue
      • capturespecificationvalue
      • ceremonialcountydescriptionvalue
      • changetypevalue
      • classificationcorrelationvalue
      • compoundstructuredescriptionvalue
      • connectinglinkdescriptionvalue
      • connectingnodedescriptionvalue
      • constructionmaterialsourcevalue
      • constructionmaterialvalue
      • countryvalue
      • countrydescriptionvalue
      • 🆕crowdsourcednamedescriptionvalue
      • 🆕crowdsourcednamematchtypevalue
      • cyclefacilityvalue
      • dataentitycatalogue
      • dedicationvalue
      • devolvedparliamentconstituencydescriptionvalue
      • devolvedparliamentelectoralregiondescriptionvalue
      • electoraldivisiondescriptionvalue
      • extentoflinkvalue
      • ferrylinkdescriptionvalue
      • ferrynodedescriptionvalue
      • ferryterminaldescriptionvalue
      • fieldboundarydescriptionvalue
      • formofroadnodevalue
      • formofwaytypevalue
      • gaugevalue
      • glaassemblyconstituencydescriptionvalue
      • gssrolevalue
      • hazardtypevalue
      • heightingmethodvalue
      • highwaydedicationnetworkfeaturetypevalue
      • historiccountydescriptionvalue
      • historiceuropeanregiondescriptionvalue
      • intertidallinedescriptionvalue
      • 🆕illuminationvalue
      • junctiontypedescriptionvalue
      • landdescriptionvalue
      • landformdescriptionvalue
      • landformlinedescriptionvalue
      • landformpointdescriptionvalue
      • landoslandcovertieravalue
      • landoslandcovertierbvalue
      • landformvalue
      • landpointdescriptionvalue
      • languagevalue
      • linkdirectionvalue
      • 🆕linkreferenceconfidencevalue
      • lowertierlocalauthoritydescriptionvalue
      • maintenancevalue
      • 🆕matchedfeaturetypengdvalue
      • 🆕matchedthemengdvalue
      • matchstatusvalue
      • classificationcorrelationvalue
      • namedareaextentdefinitionvalue
      • nameddatevalue
      • nameddayvalue
      • namedescriptiongroupvalue
      • namedescriptionvalue
      • namedperiodvalue
      • namedroadjunctiondescriptionvalue
      • namedtimevalue
      • networkfeaturetypevalue
      • 🆕networknodefeaturetypevalue
      • networkoverunderbridgevalue
      • operationalstatevalue
      • operationalstatusvalue
      • oslandusetieravalue
      • oslandusetierbvalue
      • parentboundarydescriptionvalue
      • parentfeaturetypevalue
      • parishorcommunitydescriptionvalue
      • pathdescriptionvalue
      • pathnodedescriptionvalue
      • physicallevelvalue
      • 🆕physicalstatevalue
      • physicallevelvalue
      • pollingdistrictdescriptionvalue
      • positionalaccuracyvalue
      • postcodetypevalue
      • presencevalue
      • raildescriptionvalue
      • raildetaildescriptionvalue
      • railoslandcovertieravalue
      • railoslandcovertierbvalue
      • railwaylinkdescriptionvalue
      • railwaylinksetdescriptionvalue
      • railwaynodedescriptionvalue
      • railwayusevalue
      • regionalauthoritydescriptionvalue
      • regiondescriptionvalue
      • reinstatementtypevalue
      • relationshiptypevalue
      • restrictiontypedescriptionvalue
      • restrictionvalue
      • riverbasindistrictcatchmentdescriptionvalue
      • roadclassificationvalue
      • roaddescriptionvalue
      • roadfunctionvalue
      • roadlinedescriptionvalue
      • roadnodedescriptionvalue
      • roadstructurevalue
      • roadtrackorpathdescriptionvalue
      • roadtrackorpathoslandcovertieravalue
      • roadtrackorpathoslandcovertierbvalue
      • roadwidthconfidencelevelvalue
      • 🆕roofconfidenceindicatorvalue
      • 🆕roofmaterialvalue
      • 🆕roofshapevalue
      • pavementdescriptionvalue
      • sideofroadvalue
      • siteaccesslocationdescriptionvalue
      • sitedescriptionvalue
      • siteextentdefinitionvalue
      • siteroutingpointdescriptionvalue
      • sourceofmeasurevalue
      • specialdesignationtypevalue
      • stakeholdervalue
      • statusvalue
      • streetclassificationvalue
      • streetdescriptionvalue
      • streetgeometrysourcevalue
      • 🆕streetlightdescriptionvalue
      • streetstatevalue
      • streetsurfacevalue
      • streettypevalue
      • structuredescriptionvalue
      • structureoslandcovertieravalue
      • structureoslandcovertierbvalue
      • structurelinedescriptionvalue
      • structurepointdescriptionvalue
      • structuretypevalue
      • structurevalue
      • surfacetypevalue
      • themevalue
      • tidalboundarydescriptionvalue
      • trackrepresentationvalue
      • tramdescriptionvalue
      • 🆕transportfeaturetypevalue
      • uppertierlocalauthoritydescriptionvalue
      • usrnmatchindicatorvalue
      • vehiclequalifiervalue
      • warddescriptionvalue
      • waterbodycatchmentdescriptionvalue
      • waterbodycategoryvalue
      • waterdescriptionvalue
      • wateroslandcovertieravalue
      • wateroslandcovertierbvalue
      • waterlinkdescriptionvalue
      • waterlinkflowdirectionvalue
      • waterlinkgeometrysourcevalue
      • waterlinklevelofdetailvalue
      • waterlinkpermanencevalue
      • waterlinkphysicalcontainmentvalue
      • waterlinkprimacyvalue
      • waterlinksetdescriptionvalue
      • waterlinkwatertypevalue
      • watermarkvalue
      • waternodedescriptionvalue
      • waterpointdescriptionvalue
      • watertypevalue
      • westminsterconstituencydescriptionvalue
      • yesnovalue
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  • OS NGD terminology: themes, collections and feature types
  • Theme
  • Collection
  • Feature type
  • How do you access the OS NGD?

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  1. GETTING STARTED
  2. OS NGD Fundamentals

Terminology and access

PreviousOS NGD FundamentalsNextFile formats and naming

Last updated 1 year ago

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OS NGD terminology: themes, collections and feature types

Theme

A theme is a macro grouping of features which all represent similar geographic entities. Themes are the highest level of grouping within the OS NGD, and examples include ‘Buildings’ and ‘Transport’.

Themes allow for quick discovery and navigation when using OS Select+Build or the new OS NGD APIs. They also give you the ability to quickly access all OS data relating to your particular theme of interest.

The nine OS NGD themes are: Address, Administrative and Statistical Units, Buildings, Geographical Names, Land, Land Use, Structures, Transport, and Water.

Collection

A collection is a sub-grouping of the OS NGD themes. Collections group together similar types of data within a theme. Examples include ensuring network and routing data is separated from topographic features. For example, in the OS NGD Water Theme, there are two collections: OS NGD Water Features (topographic data) and OS NGD Water Network (network data).

This makes it easier for you to access only the data you require.

Feature type

A feature type is the most granular level of grouping within the OS NGD. Feature types have their own data model and specifications which are not commonly shared with other feature types. When you order data through OS Select+Build, the data you receive will be provided at a feature type level.

How do you access the OS NGD?

  • OS Select+Build: A download service which enables you to choose only the data you require and select how you want to receive your data.

  • OS NGD API – Features: An OGC API – Features service.

  • OS NGD API – Tiles: A vector tiles service based on OGC API – Tiles.

The OS NGD is available via the on either the . There are three access methods to choose from once you are on the OS Data Hub:

OS Data Hub
Premium Plan or Public Sector Plan
OS NGD terminology: themes, collections, feature types and features.
The nine OS NGD data themes.
OS NGD access methods.
Infographic showing OS NGD terminology: themes, collections, feature types and features.
Image showing a simple map of Great Britain. The 9 OS NGD data themes names are listed: Address, Administrative and Statistical Units, Buildings, Geographical Names, Land, Land Use, Structures, Transport, and Water.
Infographic showing the OS NGD access methods as of May 2023. The OS NGD can be accessed via OS Select+Build or two NGD-specific APIs.