Strategi® guidance notes


Introduction

These guidance notes provide guidance on the appearance of maps created from Strategi and on the data itself. They pick out some major aspects of Strategi, as described in the Ordnance Survey's Strategi User Guide, but also highlight several issues that are not adequately explained in the User Guide.

More detail on some aspects of Strategi can be found in the Strategi User Guide which can be downloaded from here. The User Guide also includes details of the use of NTF, DXF, SHP and MID/MIF to supply the data.

Strategi is a regionally based dataset useful for activities such as decision making in planning. It is a geometrically structured 1:250,000 scale vector database that defines the real world geographic objects as point and line features. Each feature consists of geometric and attribute data. Coordinate resolution is 1 metre.

Strategi is used within Digimap to create Regional View maps.

Feature codes

This is a list of all the valid feature codes used within Strategi, in numerical order of feature code. The list contains a description of each feature, its feature type, its feature code and a list of attributes which can be associated with that feature. Please note that the list of attributes is different in several cases from the list of attributes published by Ordnance Survey in their Strategi User Guide. The list here is based on our experience of using the data.

Note that all features listed below have the DE attribute, which details when the feature was last amended.

Features codes, or layer names, in Strategi DXF data are prefixed by the characters "G806". For more information on DXF data download the user guide.

This list of feature codes can also be viewed arranged by category.

Feature code Description Type Attributes Notes
5107 Road Distance Marker (Primary & amp; A) Point FC, OR  
5108 Road Distance Marker (Motorway) Point FC, OR  
5109 Dual Junction graphic text divider line Point FC  
5110 Coastline, natural Line FC High Water Mark
5111 Coastline, man-made Line FC  
5115 Sea, below mean high water Point FC, RU  
5120 Foreshore sand - outer limit Line FC  
5121 Foreshore sand - area seed Point FC, RB  
5122 Foreshore non-sand - outer limit Line FC  
5123 Foreshore non-sand - area seed Point FC, RB  
5140 Lighthouse, in use Point FC, GS, FM  
5141 Lightship Point FC, GS, FM  
5142 Lighthouse, disused Point FC, GS, FM  
5200 Unspecified node Point FC  
5211 Primary river - source Line FC, FM  
5212 Primary river - middle Line FC, FM  
5213 Primary river - lower Line FC, FM  
5221 Secondary river - source Line FC, FM  
5222 Secondary river - middle Line FC, FM  
5230 Small river Line FC  
5240 Canal Line FC, FM  
5241 Canal tunnel Line FC, FM  
5242 Canal - over other feature Line FC, FM  
5243 Canal Tunnel (end symbol) Point FC, OR  
5250 Inland water body - outer limit Line FC  
5251 Inland water body - area seed Point FC, RB  
5300 Motorway (under construction) Line FC, NU  
5301 Motorway (under construction, over other feature) Line FC, NU  
5302 Primary route, dual carriageway (under construction) Line FC, NU  
5303 Primary route, dual carriageway (under construction, over) Line FC, NU  
5304 Primary route, single carriageway (under construction) Line FC, NU  
5305 Primary route, single carriageway (under construction, over) Line FC, NU  
5306 A Road, dual carriageway (under construction) Line FC, NU  
5307 A Road, dual carriageway (under construction, over) Line FC, NU  
5308 A Road, single carriageway (under construction) Line FC, NU  
5309 A Road, single carriageway (under construction, over) Line FC, NU  
5310 Motorway Line FC, NU  
5311 Motorway - planned Line FC, NU  
5312 Motorway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5313 Motorway tunnel Line FC, NU  
5314 Road tunnel (end symbol) Line FC, OR  
5320 Primary route dual carriageway Line FC, NU  
5321 Primary route dual carriageway - planned Line FC, NU  
5322 Primary route dual carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5323 Primary route single carriageway Line FC, NU  
5324 Primary route single carriageway - planned Line FC, NU  
5325 Primary route single carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5326 Narrow primary route Line FC, NU  
5327 Narrow primary route - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5330 A road dual carriageway Line FC, NU  
5331 A road dual carriageway - planned Line FC, NU  
5332 A road dual carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5333 A road single carriageway Line FC, NU  
5334 A road single carriageway - planned Line FC, NU  
5335 A road single carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5336 Narrow A road Line FC, NU  
5337 Narrow A road- over other feature Line FC, NU  
5340 B road dual carriageway Line FC, NU  
5342 B road dual carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5343 B road single carriageway Line FC, NU  
5345 B road single carriageway - over other feature Line FC, NU  
5346 Narrow Broad Line FC, NU  
5347 Narrow B road- over other feature Line FC, NU  
5350 Minor road Line FC  
5351 Minor road -over other feature Line FC  
5353 Minor road tunnel Line FC, FM  
5355 Primary route dual carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5356 A road dual carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5357 B road dual carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5358 A road tunnel Line FC, NU  
5359 B road tunnel Line FC, NU  
5360 Service Station - full access Point FC, OR, GS, NU, UE, LO,  
5361 Service Station - limited access Point FC, GS, FM, UE, LO, RJ, RM, RL, RQ, RW, RZ, OR  
5370 Motorway junction - full access Point GS, FC, NU  
5371 Motorway junction - limited access Point FC, NU, GS, RJ, RM, RL, RQ, RW, RZ, DE  
5372 Motorway junction - under construction Point GS, FC, NU  
5373 Primary route tunnel Line FC, NU  
5374 Minor road - roundabout Point FC  
5375 Primary route single carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5376 A road single carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5377 B road single carriageway - roundabout Point FC  
5378 Multi-level junction - under construction Point FC, GS  
5379 Multi-level junction Point FC, GS  
5380 Gradient 1 in 7 or steeper Point FC, OR, GS Not shown on minor roads.
5381 Roundabout under construction Point FC  
5382 Toll Point FC, OR  
5384 Other track or road Line FC  
5385 Other track or road - over other feature Line FC  
5390 Vehicular ferry Line FC,
FE, FF,
FI, FP,
FR, FT,GS
 
5393 Ferry route link Line FC, GS,
FE, FF,
FI, FP,
FR, FT
 
5397 100km accentuated grid line Line FC  
5398 10km grid line Line FC  
5405 Minor Road under 4 metres wide Line FC  
5406 Minor Road under 4 metres wide (over other feature) Line FC  
5407 Minor Road under 4 metres wide tunnel Line FC, FM  
5408 Roundabout (minor road under 4 metres wide tunnel) Line FC  
5413 Town attribute point Point CM or UN, FC, FM, LO  
5416 Village attribute point Point CM or UN, FC, FM, LO  
5419 Landmark attribute point Point CM or UN, FC, FM, LO  
5420 Large urban area - outer limit Line FC  
5421

Large urban area - seed

Point FC, RB  
5422 Small urban area - outer limit Line FC  
5423 Small urban area - seed Point FC, RB  
5427 City attribute point Point CM or UN, FC, FM, LO  
5490 Inland waterbody - inner limit Line FC  
5491 Forest - inner limit Line FC  
5492 Large urban area - inner limit Line FC  
5493 Small urban area - inner limit Line FC  
5494 Foreshore sand - inner limit Line FC  
5495 Foreshore non-sand - inner limit Line FC  
5510 Standard gauge railway Line FC  
5511 Standard gauge railway - over other feature Line FC  
5512 Narrow gauge railway Line FC  
5513 Narrow gauge railway - over other feature Line FC  
5514 Railway tunnel Line FC  
5515 Railway tunnel (end symbol) Point FC, OR  
5520 Railway station Point FC, GS, FM  
5530 Level crossing on classified road Point FC, GS, OR  
5531 Level crossing on unclassified road Point FC, GS, OR  
5610 Forest - outer limit Line FC  
5611 Forest - area seed Point FC, RB  
5612 Marsh Point FC  
5620 Geographical area Point FC, FM, RU Moors, woodland, headland,
fens, commons, plains, hills,
lakes, lochs and reservoirs and so on.
5621 Island area attribute point Point FC, FM, RB  
5710 National area boundary Line FC  
5715 National area seed Point FC, FM, RU  
5720 County boundary Line FC  
5725 County - area seed Point FC, CM, RU  
5730 District Boundary Line FC  
5733 District primary attribute point Point FC, DN, CM  
5734 Administrative detached attribute point Point FC, DN and CM or UN, RB  
5740 Unitary Authority Boundary Line FC  
5744 Unitary Authority primary attribute point Point FC, UN  
5750 Associated area boundary Line FC  
5805 Camping and caravanning combined site Point FC, GS  
5806 Park and ride Point FC, GS, UE  
5810 Roman road Line FC, FM  
5812 Antiquity line detail Line FC, FM Dyke, wall and so on
5815 Hill-fort Point FC, GS, FM  
5816 Battlefield Point FC, GS, FM  
5820 National or forest park boundary Line FC  
5821 National or forest park area seed Point FC, FM, RB  
5825 National trail, long distance path Line FC, FM  
5835 Television or radio mast Point FC, GS  
5837 Telephone dot Point FC  
5838 Landmark/antiquity dot Point FC, GS, FM  
5840 Airport without customs facilities Point GS, FC, FM, AO  
5841 Airport with customs facilities Point AN, GS
FC, FM,
CM or UN
 
5843 Wind powered generator Point FC, GS  
5844 Windmill Point FC, GS  
5845 Heliport Point AO, FC
GS, FM
 
5847 Public Telephone Point FC  
5849 Motoring organisation telephone Point FC  
5851 Theme park (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5860 Abbey, cathedral, priory (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5861 Camp site Point FC, GS  
5862 Caravan site Point FC, GS  
5863 Golf course Point FC, GS  
5864 Museum (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5865 Picnic site Point FC, GS  
5866 Tourist information centre (open all year) Point FC, GS  
5867 Country park (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5868 Youth hostel Point FC, GS  
5869 Nature or forest trail Point FC, GS  
5870 Zoo (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5871 Preserved railway Point FC, GS, FM  
5873 Craft centre (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5874 Wildlife centre (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5875 Aquarium (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM  
5876 Cave (open to the public) Point FC, GS  
5877 Castle (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5878 Historic house (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5879 Motor racing circuit Point FC, GS, FM  
5880 Nature reserve Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5881 Viewpoint (limited) Point FC, GS  
5882 Viewpoint (360 degrees) Point FC, GS  
5883 Other tourist attraction (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5884 Ski slope Point FC, GS  
5885 Racecourse Point FC, GS, FM  
5886 Garden (open to the public) Point FC, GS, FM, OW  
5887 Ferry boat Point FC  
5888 Ferry hovercraft Point FC  
5889 Tourist information centre (seasonal) Point FC, GS  
5890 Ferry box outline Point FC  
5892 Ferry catamaran Point FC  

Cartographic text

Feature
code
Text category description Notes
5006 Non Primary Route Destination Town  
5016 Other Graphic Text Includes airport without customs facilities, heliport, hotel, oil refinery and so on.
5020 Water feature name River, lake, loch, reservoir, bay, sea, ocean and so on
5025 Primary Route Destination City  
5026 Non Primary Destination City  
5031 Motorway number  
5032 Primary route number  
5033 A road number  
5034 B road number  
5036 Motorway Road Distance Marker  
5037 Primary & amp; A Road Distance Marker  
5038 Toll  
5039 Ferry Annotation  
5040 Non-primary route village  
5041 Primary route destination town  
5042 Motorway junction number full access  
5043 Motorway junction number limited access  
5044 Tourist feature  
5045 Long Distance Footpath  
5046 National Park / Forest Park name  
5049 Primary Road Destination Village  
5060 Geographical area names, parks, moors, woodlands, commons, moors, plains  
5061 Large hills and ranges  
5062 Hills, Islands & amp; Rock features  
5081 Roman antiquities (AD43 - AD420)  
5082 Non-Roman antiquities  

Attribute codes used above are detailed in the table below. The "possible values" column explains the possible values that the attribute can take. For example, if the AN attribute is present it always has a value of 0,whereas the FM attribute can contain any text.

Code Description Possible values Notes
AN Airport, international 0 This attribute is not used consistently in the data.
AO Airport, other 0 This attribute is not used consistently in the data.
CM County name text Administrative County Name, e.g. Kent County.
DE DATE 0 or date, e.g. 20001128 The date of last amendment
DN District name text Administrative area district name, e.g. Thanet District.
FC Feature code 0000-9999 Contains the numeric feature code of the feature. For example, 5330 for an A road, dual carriageway.
FE Ferry access text Shows method of vehicular access to ferry, for example roll-on/roll-off.
FF Ferry from text - starts with "Route from:" Shows ferry departure location. Interchangeable with FT attribute.
FI Ferry time text Shows normal crossing time in minutes.
FM Feature name text For example Birmingham, River Severn
FP Ferry type text Shows the type of ferry, for example ship, catamaran.
FR Ferry restrictions text For example all year, seasonal.
FT Ferry to text - starts with "Route to:" Shows ferry destination. Interchangeable with FF attribute.
GS GIS 0 or unique number Intelligence unique identifier. There can be none (null, or 0), one (e.g. 33596) or more than one number per record (e.g. 4587, 5986, 9758)
LO Location 0 - 5 Identifies location. Values are:
  • 0 = NULL
  • 1 = Motorway
  • 2 = Primary route
  • 3 = A class road
  • 4 = Primary route destination
  • 5 = Non-primary route destination
NU Road number text For example M27.
OR Orientation 4 digit number Used to describe the orientation of a point feature from grid east, anticlockwise in tenths of a degree. If absent the feature is not deemed to have an orientation.
OW Owner text Property owner, e.g. English Heritage.
RB Representative point, for bounded area 0 Present only for an area bounded by line features, for example a lake.
RJ Restriction North text Restricted junction - north bound, e.g. "no access", "no exit".
RL Restriction South text Restricted junction - southbound, e.g. "no access", "no exit".
RM Restriction East text Restricted junction - eastbound, e.g. "no access", "no exit".
RQ Restriction West text Restricted junction - westbound, e.g. "no access to M6 southbound", "no exit".
RU Representative point, for an unbounded area 0 Present only for an area not bounded by line features, for example South Downs.
RW Restriction Clockwise text Restricted junction - clockwise, e.g. "no access to A34 northbound".
RZ Restriction Anticlockwise text Restricted junction - anticlockwise, e.g. "no access", "no exit".
TX Cartographic text text Contains text intended for cartographic display.
UE Usage 0 - 6 Indicates status, values:
  • 0 = NULL
  • 1 = "Operates all year with a minimum opening time Monday - Saturday" (Park & amp; Ride)
  • 2 = "Seasonal or Saturday only" (Park & amp; Ride)
  • 3 = "Open 24hrs, under construction" (Service station)
  • 4 = "Open 24hrs, operational" (Service station)
  • 5 = "Not open 24hrs, under construction (from 2002)" (Service station)
  • 6 = "Not open 24hrs, operational (from 2002)" (Service Station)
UN Unitary authority name text Unitary authority in which feature is located, for example City of Southampton. Either this attribute or the CM attribute is used.

Settlements

In Strategi, human settlements (cities, towns and villages) are divided by importance into a number of categories. In common with other area features, settlements are depicted with a line boundary (Feature Codes 5420, 5422, 5492,5493), and carry a seed point with Feature Code 5421 or 5423. This seed point only has the "representative point bounded" attribute (RB).

In addition, each settlement has a node point (Feature Codes 5413, 5416,5427) which has feature name (FM) and county name (CM, UN) attributes.

One of the settlement categories is "primary route destination". This category includes selected places of major traffic importance, such as cities, towns and major river crossings, as defined by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), formally DETR.

Previous versions of Strategi included satellite node points to represent a settlement where it crosses a tile boundary. Strategi is no longer delivered as tiles by the Ordnance Survey, so these satellite node points are not now present.

Area features

Area features in Strategi, such as areas of woodland, water, foreshore and urban development, are portrayed by line features which define the limits of the area in question. Within each area defined by these lines is a seedpoint with a corresponding feature code.

The line features which form the limits of an area feature are given feature codes indicating whether they are the outer limit or inner limit of such a classified area. For example, the outer limit of large urban areas are bounded by a line which has a Feature Code of 5420; "islands" within this outer limit which are not classed as part of the urban area are bounded by a line with a feature code of 5492, representing the inner limit.

Each seed point within an area feature carries an attribute indicating whether the area feature is bounded by line features or not. Most area features (woods, lakes, urban areas etc) are bounded by line features and carry the corresponding RB attribute. Some seed points are not bounded by line features and therefore carry the RU attribute, such as sea areas (Feature Code 5115) and named geographical areas (seed point Feature Code 5620).

Cartographic text

Strategi contains cartographic text which is designed for display and plotting, and completely separate attribute text which is designed for text processing and analysis. All text which is included as cartographic text is also transferred as attribute text. Some text which is included as attribute text is not included as cartographic text.

Text is generally positioned horizontal to a grid. The general exception to this rule is that text referring to a linear feature such as a river is positioned at one or more points along the feature to which it refers, aligned along that feature.

A name may be split into two or more pieces of cartographic text to improve display. For example, the name Derwent Water is contained in two pieces of cartographic text; "Derwent" and "Water" which are positioned one above the other.

All cartographic text is associated with a point location, given as x and y National Grid coordinates. The position of the text relative to the given point is indicated by a text position code indicating whether the text should be placed above, below or beside the point and whether it should be centred Porto the left or right. This code allows the text to be positioned correctly in relation to the feature which it refers to. Use of the text position code is described in more detail in the Strategi User Guide.

The font and size in mm of the text is transferred which enables the user to recreate the appearance of the text.

Attribute text

Strategi contains cartographic text which is designed for display and plotting, and completely separate attribute text which is designed for text processing and analysis. All text which is included as cartographic text is also transferred as attribute text. Some text which is included as attribute text is not included as cartographic text.

Names of features are also included in the data as attribute text. This attribute text is transferred as the Feature Name (FM) attribute of the features to which they refer. Occasionally, the value of the Feature Name attribute is apiece of descriptive text rather than a proper name. This is commonly the case for railway stations and hill forts, but is also occasionally true for castles, and other distinctive buildings. For some features (e.g. ferries, districts) attribute text appears not as a Feature Name attribute but as an attribute specific to that feature. These are described below where appropriate.

Line features: only some line features carry a feature name (FM)attribute. The features concerned are:

Point features: only some point features carry a feature name (FM)attribute. The features concerned are:

Feature Name attributes are usually spelt out in full. Common words may be abbreviated, using the following abbreviations:

Abbreviation Full text
Br Bridge
Cas Castle
Ho House
Junc Junction
R River
Resr,Resrs Reservoir,Reservoirs
St Saint
Sta Station

Roads, railways and canals on bridges

Where a line feature representing a road, railway or canal crosses other features on a bridge, it is given a special feature code, indicating "over other feature". There are "over" feature codes for each category of road as well as for railways and canals. Only the uppermost feature is given an "over" feature code. Therefore, the section of a feature which passes above a road (for example) is given a separate feature code to the rest of that feature. The extent of the feature coded as "over" is the full length of the bridge carrying the feature.

Railways

All standard gauge railways are included in Strategi. Most of the associated infrastructure of stations, tunnels and level crossings is included. However, for clarity, some minor stations (Feature Code 5520) are omitted. Narrow gauge railways are included where space permits.

Roads

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are given a feature code that depends on the highest category of road that uses the roundabout. For example, a roundabout where a dual carriageway B road meets a minor road has a Feature Code of 5357(a B road dual carriageway roundabout), whereas a roundabout where that dual carriageway B road meets a primary route has a Feature Code of 5375 (a primary route roundabout). For A roads, B roads and primary routes the feature codes distinguish between roundabouts on single and dual carriageways.

Multi-level junctions

A multi-level junction (Feature Codes 5378, 5379) is a road junction where roads cross each other using bridges and underpasses instead of intersections. These Feature Codes are used on all classes of roads, except motorways. Motorway junctions have their own Feature Codes (5370-5372) and use these Feature Codes, not those for multi-level junctions. Where a multi-level junction includes a roundabout, it will have the Feature Code of a multi-level junction, not the Feature Code of a roundabout.

Road names and feature codes

The category of a road can be deduced independently from two pieces of information: the Feature Code, and the Number (NU) attribute. The NU attribute contains the text of the name of the road (for example "B3047", or "A27(M)"). Occasionally, these two pieces of information disagree. In these cases, the Feature Code is more consistently correct.

Ferries

Vehicular ferry routes are shown as lines with a Feature Code of 5390. These lines end where they reach the coastline.

Feature Code 5393 (ferry route link) is applied to a line which connects the road network with the point at which a ferry reaches the coastline. This provides connectivity between road and ferry networks to facilitate transport network analysis.

The attributes of the ferry route link are identical to the ferry route to which they are related.

Unspecified nodes

Unspecified nodes (Feature Code 5200) are used to record topological information. They do not have any attributes. They are positioned at end points and junctions of line features.