In a business of any kind, OS MasterMap Topography Layer gives you the confidence to make location-based decisions about assets, services, environmental risks, customers and operations.
It helps you carry out effective scenario planning, improve resilience, manage public events and support security operations.
And for every type of business, OS MasterMap Topography Layer helps you to identify the landscape and explain the accurate ‘where’ of things.

Mapping from the ground up
OS MasterMap Topography Layer gives you access to the most detailed, current and comprehensive dataset of Great Britain. It offers an accurate visual context to help you interpret addresses, routes and imagery provided by other layers.
Start by using OS MasterMap Topography Layer as a definitive map for visualisation, then take advantage of advanced features later. With this data, you’ll make better-informed decisions about customers, operations, assets and environmental risks.

Building height data
OS MasterMap Topography Layer now includes an enhanced feature - Building Height Attribute. Visualise buildings in 3D and use our data to analyse the built environment.

Accurate referencing
OS MasterMap Topography Layer is ideal for geo-tagging your assets, thanks to the topographic identifier (TOID®) at the heart of OS MasterMap products. This makes it ideal for monitoring assets such as pipelines, pylons, bridges and warehouses.

Important sites mapped out
OS MasterMap Sites Layer shows you the main points of access to key sites such as schools, hospitals and train stations quickly and easily in emergency situations. You can also identify and reduce the impact of planned works or events on key sites.
Specifications
Technical specificationKey Features | What this product offers |
---|---|
Theme | OS MasterMap Topography Layer – buildings, heritage & antiquities. || OS MasterMap Sites Layer – education, medical care, rail transport, road transport, water transport, utility, and industrial. |
Update frequency | OS MasterMap Topography Layer – every six weeks || OS MasterMap Sites Layer – every six months. || Building Height Attribute – every six months. |
Coverage | OS MasterMap Topography Layer – Great Britain (define your own area of interest or take advantage of pre-defined areas of interest). || OS MasterMap Sites Layer – Great Britain (order 5km2 tiles to cover your Topography Layer area of interest). || Building Height Attribute – Great Britain. |
Format | OS MasterMap Topography Layer – GML 2.1.2 || OS MasterMap Sites Layer – GML 3.2.1 || Building Height Attribute – CSV |
Licensing
OS MasterMap Topography Layer is available under the following licence:
Explore our data
You’re welcome to try out this data for free under our Data Exploration Licence.
Internal business use
When using OS data in your own business, you need our Framework Contract (Direct Customers) together with a data contract.
Creating products or services
To use this data commercially in your own products and services, or to distribute it, you will need to sign up to our Framework Contract (Partners) and a relevant defined use contract. This will vary depending on what you’re going to do with the data.
Case studies
Helping Northumbrian Water create the first underground utilities map
Delivering estimated savings of around £1 million, Northumbrian Water and Ordnance Survey (OS) created the first Underground Infrastructure Hub for the North East.
Helping to safeguard moorland life
Using OS data, the Moors for the Future Partnership created a land cover map which gave vital information to safeguard moorland life.
Using GIS to plan for housing growth
Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping enabled a local council to build an accurate picture of sites, which could be redeveloped for housing.