OS MasterMap Imagery Layer support

OS MasterMap Imagery Layer is fully orthorectified to provide a high level 1.1 m RMSE accuracy and correct alignment with our other detailed data.

Geocorrected imagery has been fitted to mapped features and does not include a digital terrain model (DTM) to compensate for ground height variations within the image. It has the advantage of being inexpensive to produce, and gives a good approximate fit to vector map data. But since it is not controlled to the National Grid or adjusted to compensate for the ground height variations, it does not inherently provide positionally or geometrically accurate imagery. Update is also a problem since the controls, being based upon mapped features rather than true location, are not necessarily stable.

Orthorectified imagery is created using National Grid control points and a DTM. This means that the distortions inherent in a flat photograph of a three-dimensional object (the earth's surface) are more completely and accurately corrected. An orthorectified image is positionally more accurate, and geometric fidelity (shape) is retained in all terrain, including hilly areas. Also, a consistent scale is maintained throughout the image (as per a map), and future imagery updates will be in the same position.

OSMM Imagery Layer covers the whole of Great Britain. The minimum coverage extends out to the high water mark as represented for England and Wales by Mean High Water (MHW) and for Scotland Mean High Water (springs) (MHW(S)). Ordnance Survey does not specify image capture during any particular tidal state.

All our orthorectified imagery in OS MasterMap Imagery Layer uses direct National Grid control and GPS with a suitable transformation in order to achieve our specified positional accuracy. This means features will align very closely between the image and vector data, within the expected tolerances. The imagery is also revised at the same time as OS MasterMap Topography Layer as part of our Integrated Revision Programme. Together these processes provide positionally correct imagery which is temporally consistent to maximise interoperability between OS MasterMap layers and your own data.

Ordnance Survey has invested considerable resources and worked closely with its imagery suppliers to provide orthorectified imagery that achieves consistently high quality expected by our customers.

Unlike other data sources, such as topographic data, imagery can be very subjective. It is difficult to quantify specific tolerances for atmospheric conditions, such as haze. We ensure our suppliers adhere to a detailed set of quality levels for the key aspects of imagery with an emphasis on data quality over image appearance alone. For instance priority is given to ensuring detail such as road markings can be seen within shadows and to positional accuracy.

These acceptable quality levels are summarised in the user guide and include:

• the photography and how it is captured;
• the controls and height models used for orthorectification; and
• geometric fidelity (shape), absolute accuracy (position), radiometric accuracy (colour), image appearance (contrast, haze, cloud cover and distortions).

Great care is taken to ensure that the images in the Layer meet our detailed Image Appearance criteria.

However, on occasion and under certain circumstances, these rules are relaxed. For example, if opportunities to capture new imagery have been limited by poor weather and existing imagery in the Imagery Layer is deemed out-of-date, then imagery will be accepted provided detail is visible on the ground.

In these circumstances, image currency takes precedence over image appearance.

All imagery since 2015 are 'True' Orthorectified (without building lean). However, within these images there may be small patches of 'traditional' ortho (with building lean) which have been introduced to resolve geometric or image appearance/artefact issues.

Whether 'True' or 'traditional' Ortho, buildings should always be geometrically correct, located in their correct geographical position and suitable for analytical interpretation.

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintenance, we continuously refresh OS MasterMap Imagery Layer as part of our cyclic integrated revision schedule. 

For more detailed information, including planned flying and progress of imagery in production, please contact your account manager.

The OS MasterMap Imagery Layer provides full coverage of Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales. We refresh this quarterly on a three year cyclic schedule. Imagery is captured as part of our integrated revision programme which updates imagery alongside our detailed data, notably OS MasterMap® Topography Layer. This ensures the layers are synchronised when used together.

We typically plan to fly up to 100 000 sq km during the flying season, from March until November each year. Achieving our update targets will, of course, be dependent on weather conditions, quality checks and flying restrictions. Thus we are unable to guarantee imagery captured until it has been successfully processed.

The OS MasterMap Imagery Layer is supplied in 1km x 1km tiles in your choice of the following formats:

• Tagged Image File Format (TIFF);
• Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG); and
• Enhance Compression Wavelet (ECW).

All files are accompanied by the relevant georeferencing files to enable integration in a GIS. The main features are summarised below.

TIFF is one of the most commonly used lossless image formats. TIFF is primarily designed for raster data interchange, and is supported by numerous image-processing applications.

The other two formats are compressed to reduce their file size and facilitate data management. These formats are recommended for very large or national coverage orders. As file compression can vary, the following file sizes are average.

A JPEG image uses a lossy compression format. It is designed for compressing either full-colour or greyscale images of natural, real-world scenes and so works well on photographs, becoming the standard format for web site applications.

The ECW raster image uses wavelet compression software which has been designed to compress, display, Internet serve and distribute imagery. The key characteristic of such compressions is that they are able to preserve a very good quality of the image with high compression ratios.

Please note, only one format can be supplied per order. For ECW files, a plug-in is normally required. Customers are advised to consult the suppliers of their image viewing software to discuss format requirements prior to placing an order for imagery.

All of the OS MasterMap Imagery Layer formats can be registered in a GIS or image-processing software. This is achieved in different ways depending on the format, either through the accompanying georeferencing files, header files or with metadata delivered with the image file. A national set of World files is available opposite.

The imagery user guide provides full technical details. Your software supplier will also be able to advise you on this matter.

Yes, each OS MasterMap Imagery Layer tile is accompanied by a separate XML metadata file in a consistent format across every image in the layer. The metadata is extremely detailed and includes information ranging from imagery capture date to photographic lens focal length. The imagery user guide contains detailed technical information.

As the OS MasterMap Imagery Layer is a raster product, unlike the other (vector) layers in the OS MasterMap product range, TOIDs® are not part of the data specification. However, OS MasterMap layers are designed to be used together in order to create a synchronised tool for analysis of many different types of data in a GIS. Thus other layers can be drawn over imagery to provide information, such as TOIDs.

In line with our release schedule, every quarter we publish our latest currency on our coverage page so you can keep track of our progress. For a full breakdown of the currency in your area of interest please contact us.