FAQ


Do you have questions about Spatial NI or using our platform?

Before contacting us you might want to look through the questions and answers in this section.


Spatial NI is Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland’s web mapping platform.

It provides you with access to not only Ordnance Survey’s authoritative mapping data, but other authoritative geospatial information from multiple providers across the public and private sectors.

Spatial NI was created in 2007 from the need to comply with the European Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) Directive.

Since its launch, Spatial NI has since undergone a series of enhancements to improve accessibility to and use of authoritative spatial data in Northern Ireland.

The Spatial NI platform provides access to a range of authoritative spatial data for Northern Ireland.

With the Spatial NI map viewer, you can create maps specific to your task at hand using any of the available data.

Spatial NI also provides a gallery with a selection of other pre-built mapping applications sourced from across other areas of the public sector.

Spatial NI is free to use, but subject to our published use policy.

You will need an internet browser for accessing our website, Spatial NI map viewer or any of the applications from our map gallery.

Spatial NI is about making spatial data easier to find, use and share. It provides users with a capability to “mash up” information on a map and to interrogate the data based on location.

As part of our platform monitoring, we use your IP address to monitor your use of the site. This is done through use of a third party data processor.

‘Spatial NI for INSPIRE’, a component of the Spatial NI platform has been developed by Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland as a shared resource to facilitate the public sector meeting the obligations of the INSPIRE Directive.


Spatial NI has been designed to provide users with a capability to “mash up” information on a map to provide a deeper understanding of topics that impact on our lives.

At a technical level, Spatial NI uses software provided as part of the ArcGIS platform to author, publish and make available web based mapping services. These services are then leveraged in a web based application constructed using the JavaScript API (Web AppBuilder Dev. Edition).

Yes. The Spatial NI map viewer provides functionality which enables the map to be shared to other platforms such as email or social media.

To get the best results when using Spatial NI, we recommend you use the latest version of browser available.

On 03/04/2019 these were:

Browser Latest Version
Chrome 73.0.3683.86
Firefox 66.0.2
Edge 44.17763.1.0
Safari 12.1
Opera 58.0.3135.127

Please note that Spatial NI does not support the use of Internet Explorer.

Yes. Both the Spatial NI website and Spatial NI map viewer are fully responsive HTML5 JavaScript applications.

Applications listed in the map gallery may be hosted by other public sector bodies and may not therefore be fully responsive for mobile and tablet viewing.

The Spatial NI platform only uses the HTTPS protocol for all traffic to and from our applications. Also, Spatial NI is fully accredited and complies with all NCSC and HMG IA guidelines and procedures.


In the Spatial NI map viewer,

  • The basemap is updated on a weekly basis from the most up-to-date topographic data available.
  • The aerial imagery is updated once a series of new images have been processed by our OSNI flying team.
  • Other non OSNI data available on Spatial NI is maintained by the data owner and further information can be found in the related metadata.

The OSNI data available is hosted and maintained by Spatial NI.

Some data from other providers is hosted by Spatial NI under agreement from the data owner. However, updates to this are completed by the Spatial NI team on a schedule agreed with the data owner.

Some data from other providers is streamed via a web service from their infrastructure. In this scenario, the maintenance of the data rests with the data owner.

The Spatial NI platform makes available web services hosted by both Spatial NI and other providers. If you experience an issue using any of these services, please contact us and we will investigate.

No. Representations of roads, tracks and footpaths on the Spatial NI basemap is not evidence of a public right of way. OSNI topographic data and maps are designed to show the extent of physical features on land. As a result, this can include both public and private roads, tracks and footpaths.

If there is data you would like to see on Spatial NI which is not currently available, please contact us and we will investigate your request with the data owner.

Errors in the OSNI data available on Spatial NI should be reported to us in writing via email.

Please include the following:

  • As much detail as possible on the error
  • The coordinates of the location
  • An annotated screenshot if possible

We will pass this information on to the relevant OSNI team for investigation.

Errors in other datasets should be reported to the dataset owner through the contact information available in the relevant metadata.