Removing the data management burden with the OS Features API
Tags: webdev, ordnancesurvey, geospatial
Published: 2021-08-04 10:01:55

The [OS Features API](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-government/products/features-api?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) is a genuine time saver. It allows you to connect directly to the data you need, as and when you need it, removing the overheads of managing and storing data locally. It gives you access to the rich geometries and attribution of OS data for visualisation or analysis, helping you/your users generate new location-insight.

![image](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9szd340cs4exg8a6ht9p.png)
>*OS MasterMap Water Network Layer*


Buildings, roads, rivers, hospitals, playing fields, contours and much more. There are lots of data layers available in the OS Features API. From details building footprints to generalised road networks, filter and select the right data for your analysis. The OS Features API is based on an [Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)](https://www.ogc.org/) standard, which means it’s ready to use in lots of web and desktop software including QGIS, Cadcorp, ESRI, OpenLayers and Leaflet.

[Geovation](https://geovation.uk/) start-up [Balkerne](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/newsroom/blog/os-data-to-identify-environmental-risk-to-property?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) uses OS Features API to conduct location intelligence risk analytics for customers, who then provide an advanced understanding what areas of their property may get flooded.

“Prior to the OS Data Hub, developers spent hours hosting OS Topographic layer data at a very high cost to obtain simple features on the map. Developers can exploit the wealth of OS datasets through easy, cost-effective APIs that are built to scale with their businesses.” — Harish Pesala, co-founder of [Balkerne](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/newsroom/blog/os-data-to-identify-environmental-risk-to-property?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden).

We have online resources to help you get started quickly with our APIs. You can copy and paste these [code examples](https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-examples/?_ga=2.128413004.1788209777.1627982266-1648783599.1627306224&utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) to create building blocks and then follow our [tutorials](https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-tutorials/?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) to create fully functioned applications. From [finding nearest greenspaces](https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-tutorials/web-development/find-my-nearest?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) to calculating [how much of an area is built on](https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-tutorials/web-development/percent-built-on?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden), OS Features API can accelerate your time-to-value by connecting detailed geospatial data directly into your workflows.

If you’re looking to use OS Features API in a desktop GIS, we have [Getting Started Guides](https://osdatahub.os.uk/docs/wfs/gettingStarted?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden) available too. Data scientists may prefer to connect via our handy [Python Wrapper](https://pypi.org/project/os-paw/).

**Ready to discover the OS Data Hub? Get started [now](https://osdatahub.os.uk/?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_content=data-mgmt-burden).**

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