Data Requirements Library
This Data Requirements Library documents the terminology and categories used to classify and describe Environment Agency (EA) assets. It also documents the specific data attributes that are used to describe the properties of each Asset Type and its Element Types.
Asset Categories
The EA has identified different types of Asset. These Asset Types are grouped into Asset Category groupings, as listed below.
The Asset Complex Category is a special case because its Assets are used to define geospatial areas, not physical assets. Similarly, the Information Deliverables Category defines document types and attributes to be used in filenames.
You can explore each Asset Type further by clicking on its name. This will take you to a more detailed description which may be supported by photos and diagrams that highlight key elements. There is also a table which lists the Element Types and specific data attributes that are used to describe that Asset Type.
Data about each Asset Type, Element Type and their attributes can also be accessed in JSON or CSV. These formats can be directly queried by remote applications to support supplier-side automation.
Please read the Data Requirements Library in conjunction with the Environment Agency Exchange Information Requirements.
The View History link at the top of the page gives you access to older versions of the DRL content. Further details about these versions can be found on Data Services Platform Support.
- Aid to Navigation
- Beach Structure
- Building
- Channel
- Channel Crossing
- Defence
- Instrument
- Land
- Major Civils
- Site
- Structure
Quick Links
The following links provide quick access to the complete lists of Asset Categories, Asset Types, Elements, Attributes and Picklists defined in the currently-selected version of the DRL data.
Aid to Navigation
Assets that are used to aid navigation in the marine and fluvial environment.
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon | Attached directly to the bed of the sea or a river and may be lighted or unlighted. | AB | Pr_40_10_90_07 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Buoy | Floats on the surface of the water and is anchored to the bed of the sea or river. It may be lighted or unlighted. | AU | Pr_40_10_90_10 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Dolphin | In the marine or fluvial environment, a dolphin provides a fixing point for signage / information or a mooring point | AD | Pr_40_10_90_23 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Signage | Signage in the marine and fluvial environment provides information to aid navigation. | AG | Pr_40_10_90_80 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Signal | Provides traffic control or fog warnings. | AS | Pr_40_10_90_50 | 25-02-2020 |
Beach Structure
Assets used to protect the coast from erosion or provide access.
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakwater | Provides coastal erosion protection and may provide a secondary function as a quay. | BB | En_32_85_10 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Groyne | A linear structure extending from the shore into the water that provides coastal erosion protection on beaches. | BG | En_32_85_35 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Ramp | A means of access to the top of a beach. | BR | SL_32_50_06 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Slipway | A structure that allows access into the sea or other body of water from a beach or a quayside. | BS | SL_32_50_79 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Steps | A means of access to a beach. | BT | Ss_35_10_25 | 25-02-2020 |
Building
An asset that is used to provide shelter for equipment, storage or personnel
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pump House | A building that houses pumps and the facilities necessary to support their operation | VP | En_90_90_68 | 25-02-2020 |
Channel
An asset that conveys water
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complex Culvert | A complex culvert is a covered channel to convey water below ground level, whose cross section is made of different materials (for example: masonry sides covered with a concrete soffit). | CC | En_32_95_16 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Open Channel | A channel that is not culverted | CP | En_32_95_59 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Simple Culvert | A simple culvert is a covered channel or large pipe to convey water below ground level, whose cross section is made of the same material throughout (for example: concrete pipe, concrete box section, brick arched). | CS | En_32_95_80 | 25-02-2020 |
Channel Crossing
An asset that allows access across a channel
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge | A structure that allows road, rail, pedestrian or farm access over a watercourse, infrastructure or natural feature. They can also carry water (aqueducts). | RB | En_80_94 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Utility Services | A structure that allows a utility service to cross a channel. This can be either above or below the channel. | RU | TBC | 25-02-2020 |
Defence
An asset that provides flood defence or coastal protection functions. This includes both man-made and natural defences. Natural defences may include man-made elements to make them more effective or protect them from erosion.
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrier Beach | Barrier beaches found extending from the coast can perform a flood defence and/or erosion protection function. | DA | En_32_85_06 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Beach | Beaches that are found along the coast can provide a flood defence and/or erosion protection function. | DB | SL_32_60_06 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Bridge Abutment | A bridge abutment that ties into flood defences to act as a defence. | DG | Ss_20_50_10 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Cliff | Cliffs that are found along the coast can perform a flood defence and/or erosion protection function. | DC | Co_32_65_15 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Demountable Defence | A temporary defence that is brought to, or stored on, site and erected when necessary to form a flood defence. | DM | Ss_25_95_30 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Dunes | Dunes that are found along the coast can provide a flood defence and/or erosion protection function. | DD | SL_32_60_76 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Embankment | An earthen structure used in the fluvial, tidal and coastal environments for flood defence and/or erosion protection. Also covers embankments used in dam structures. | DE | En_32_85_45 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Flood Gate | A flood gate forms part of a flood defence, usually to provide access through the defences. | DF | Ss_25_36_30_30 | 25-02-2020 | |
| High Ground | Covers all other extents along water courses that are not defined as any other Defence Asset Type. It covers situations where the only defence is the ground itself. | DH | En_32_85_35 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Promenade | Promenades found along the coast can perform a flood defence and/or erosion protection function. | DP | En_80_40_66 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Quay | A quay has a primary function as a landing place for shipping, but it also provides a line of defence. | DQ | En_32_50_69 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Wall | A raised structure used in the fluvial, tidal and coastal environments for flood defence and/or erosion protection. Also covers walls used in dam structures. | DW | Ss_20_60 | 25-02-2020 |
Instrument
An asset used to measure water level and flow
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Monitoring Instrument | Active monitoring instruments provide functions such as the sensing of water levels at a gauging station | 25-02-2020 | |||
| Passive Monitoring Instrument | Passive monitoring instruments provide functions such as a water level gaugeboard or maximum level recorder. | 25-02-2020 |
Land
An area of land that is involved in water management.
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mudflats | A natural part of the coastal environment that have an effect on water management. Mudflats are usually covered at high tide. | LM | SL_32_60_55 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Residual Land | Land that may be used for any other purpose. | 25-02-2020 | |||
| Salt Marsh | A natural part of the coastal environment that have an effect on water management. Salt marshes lie just above the usual high tide line, though may be covered by exceptionally high tides. | LS | Co_32_65_75 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Washland | An area of land that is used for flood storage including reservoirs and lakes. | LW | SL_32_65_95 | 25-02-2020 |
Major Civils
Assets that are large structures, such as the Thames Barrier
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abutment | A structure that supports the end of a major structure such as those at the Thames Barrier or other larger than usual structures. | JA | Ss_20_50_10 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Central Pier | A central pier in a major structure such as those at the Thames Barrier or other larger than usual structures. | JC | Ss_20_50_20 | 25-02-2020 |
Site
A grouping together of individual assets that can be considered as parts of a single site with a high level purpose.
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amenity Site | Grouping of assets located within a site for leisure and amenity purposes. | IA | Co_40 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Control Structure Site | Where the main purpose of the assets in the site is to alter the flow of water in the channel. | IC | Co_32_85_96 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Erosion Protection | Where the main purpose of the assets in the site is protect from coastal erosion. | IE | Co_32_55_27 | 25-02-2020 | |
| General Site | General grouping of assets that need to be considered as a single site. | IG | TBC | 25-02-2020 | |
| Harbour | Grouping of assets located within harbour or port. | IH | Co_80_70_36 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Lock Complex | Grouping of assets located within a major lock site or a series of locks. | IL | Co_32_85_50 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Monitoring Site | Where the main purpose of the assets in the site is to measure water level and flow. | IM | Co_32_85_97 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Pumping Station Compound | Grouping of assets located within the grounds of a pumping station. | IP | Co_32_85_98 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Reservoir Site | Where the main purpose of the assets in the site is to store water. | IR | Co_32_85_70 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Tidal Barrier | Where the main purpose of the assets in the site is to provide protection from high tides. | IT | Co_32_85_88 | 25-02-2020 |
Structure
An asset used to control the flow of water
| Asset Type | Description | Asset Code | Uniclass 2015 | Geometry Type | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Gate | A control gate can be adjusted to alter the flow of water in a channel. This includes penstocks, sluice gates, mitre gates, sector gates and radial gates. | SG | En_32_85_15 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Draw Off Tower | Removes water from a reservoir and diverts it elsewhere. | SD | En_32_85_25 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Fish Pass | Found at weirs and control gates to enable fish to get past these obstructions | SF | Ss_45_75_30_30 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Hydrobrake | A fixed structure that controls the flow of water using a vortex. | SH | Pr_60_45_30_93 | 25-02-2020 | |
| In Channel Stoplogs | Control the flow in a channel by means of adjustable barriers (stoplogs). | SC | Ss_55_70_99_84 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Inspection Chamber | A means of inspecting a structure. | SN | Ss_50_30_06 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Jetty | A structure that projects into the water in fluvial and coastal environments. | SJ | En_32_50_44 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Outfall | A small surface water drain that discharges into a watercourse or the sea. It can also include larger flapped outfalls where a small watercourse flows under a defence and thence into a larger watercourse or the sea. | SU | En_32_85_59 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Screen | Used to collect debris and/or prevent access to culverts, outfalls, channels etc. | SS | En_32_85_23 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Spillway | An overflow in a reservoir, flood storage area, or along defences | SP | En_32_85_82 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Stilling Basin | A structure that reduces the water velocity before it passes further downstream. | ST | En_32_85_84 | 25-02-2020 | |
| Weir | A weir crosses a channel to increase the upstream water level. | SW | En_32_85_97 | 25-02-2020 |