Accessing OS NGD data with OS NGD API – Features via ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a web-based platform geographic information system (GIS). ArcGIS Online services are managed by Esri and accessed by a client running on a wide range of options.
The instructions that follow demonstrate how to connect to OS NGD API – Features using ArcGIS Online.
Access to the ArcGIS Online service.
A preloaded base map, for example, .
OS NGD API – Features added to an API project in the OS Data Hub. (See for more information.)
Sign into your ArcGIS Online account.
Click the Map tab to open the map viewer.
In Layers, click Add > Add layer from URL.
In the Add Layer dialog:
URL: Copy the OS NGD API – Features URL without the API Key from your OS Data Hub account and paste it into the text box.
Type: Select OGC feature layer.
Custom parameters:
Select Add custom parameters.
Parameter: Type key in the text box.
Value: Enter your API Key.
Click Next.
Select a layer to add: Select a layer to add to the map and then click Add to map.
The layer will display in the Layers panel and the data will display on the map.
The following sub-sections provide step-by-step instructions on how to access OS NGD data via OS NGD API – Features in various GIS software packages:
Accessing OS NGD data with OS NGD API – Features 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 WFS).
The instructions that follow demonstrate how to connect to OS NGD API – Features using QGIS.
QGIS (version 3.12.0 or later).
A preloaded basemap, for example, .
OS NGD API – Features added to an API project in the OS Data Hub. (See for more information.)
These instructions are based on QGIS version 3.22.0.
Open an existing project or create a new one.
Deselect the Render checkbox in the bottom bar, if necessary.
Click (Add WFS Layer icon) in the Manage Layers toolbar on the left. To activate this toolbar, go to View > Toolbars and select Manage Layers Toolbar.
In Data Source Manager | WFS > Server Connections, click New.
In the Create a New WFS Connection dialog, provide the service details:
Name: Provide a name for the connection. You can reuse this connection in the future.
URL: Copy the OS NGD API – Features endpoint address from the OS Data Hub and paste it into this field.
Your API Key is automatically appended to this URL in the key parameter.
Authentication: Leave these settings at their defaults. You do not need a username or password as authentication is done through your API Key.
Version: Click Detect to identify the version.
Enable feature paging: Select this option, if necessary.
Page size: Enter a maximum page size.
This limits the page size to a maximum number of features. We recommend a setting of about 100 to speed up response times. Larger values may result in a very slow response time.
Other: Leave the other settings at their defaults.
Click OK.
QGIS saves the connection details and lists the new connection in the Server Connections dropdown for future use.
In Data Source Manager | WFS > Server Connections:
Select your new connection in the dropdown, if necessary.
Click Connect.
When you click Connect, a list of features available in OS NGD API – Features populates in the main box.
In Data Source Manager | WFS:
Features: Select the features you want to load. You can select multiple layers using your Ctrl key.
As a best practice, only load features that relate to your current task – not all features. The more features you call, the longer it takes to load them into QGIS. In addition, each feature, regardless of its layer, counts towards your rate limits.
Only request features overlapping the view extent: Select this option. This engages the bounding box which is set by your viewing window. This means that only selected features within the viewing window will load (not all features).
Click Add to add the features.
Optionally, click Close to close the dialog.
Select the Render checkbox in the bottom bar on the main UI, and select the checkbox next to each feature you want to display in the Layers panel.
Accessing OS NGD data with OS NGD API – Features via Cadcorp SIS
The Cadcorp Spatial Information System® (Cadcorp SIS®) is an integrated family of geospatial products comprising desktop, web, and developer applications.
Cadcorp SIS Desktop connects directly to the OS Data Hub through dedicated wizards.
Cadcorp SIS (version SIS 9 or later).
A preloaded base map, for example, .
OS NGD API – Features added to an API project in the OS Data Hub. (See for more information.)
These instructions are based on Cadcorp SIS Desktop version 9.1.1668.
In Cadcorp SIS Desktop, open an existing map or create a new one.
In the Home tab, click Add Overlay.
In the Overlay Types dialog, select Ordnance Survey (GB) > OS (GB) Data Hub, and then click Next.
In the OS (GB) Data Hub dialog:
Select OS National Geographic Database (NGD) API - Features.
API Key: Enter your API key.
Premium/Public Sector Plan: Select this option if you have this plan.
Save in the UI settings database (encrypted): Select this option.
Click Next.
In the OS Data Hub NGD API - Features Data Themes and Feature Types dialog:
Well-known ‘recipe’: Select a predefined recipe, if available.
Data Themes: Select your data themes.
Features: If necessary, use the editing tools (on the right) to delete feature types or to change the order in which they display in your SIS Workspace Definition (SWD). By default, all feature types within the selected data themes are available in the right panel.
Local cache: Select this option to store the data temporarily on your machine. If you save and reopen the SWD, the data will still be available as it is fetched from your local cache.
One-off import: Select this option to do a one-off import of the data. If you save and reopen the SWD, the data will not be available and you will need to re-import it. These imports have a larger file size.
Filtering: These settings are used in conjunction and define how much data is required for display. It is recommended that you always set a spatial filter and feature limit.
Spatial: The Intersect with current view extent option limits the download to only selected features within the current window extent. You can also load features within a specific area of interest using the polygon feature to draw your area of interest on the map BEFORE opening the Add Overlay dialog.
Maximum number of features: Limits the number of feature values downloaded to the number set. This limit is applied per feature within any filtered spatial area.
Click Finish.
The selected themes and feature types display in the SWD and map area.
