Regional Datasets
Identify geographic regions, building code zones, and design parameter areas using the Calcs.com GIS API.
What are Regional Datasets?
Regional datasets contain geographic boundaries (polygons) defining areas with specific design requirements, building code zones, or climate classifications. These are used primarily for Nordic countries where design parameters are defined by geographic zones rather than continuous contour maps.
Tip: For most use cases, use the dedicated endpoints (/gis/wind, /gis/snow) which automatically handle the difference between contour and region-based data.
Available Datasets
Nordic Wind Regions
| Dataset | Country | Standard |
|---|---|---|
se_base_wind_speed | Sweden | SS-EN 1991-1-4 |
no_base_wind_speed | Norway | NS-EN 1991-1-4 |
See Wind Data for complete wind dataset documentation.
Nordic Snow Regions
| Dataset | Country | Standard |
|---|---|---|
se_snow | Sweden | SS-EN 1991-1-3 |
See Snow Data for complete snow dataset documentation.
Other Regional Datasets
| Dataset | Description |
|---|---|
countries_marine_land | Geographic country boundaries (used for country detection) |
no_directional_factor | Norway directional factor zones |
API Endpoints
| Endpoint | Use Case | API Reference |
|---|---|---|
/gis/wind | Recommended - Get wind data (auto-selects region or contour) | Wind API |
/gis/snow | Recommended - Get snow data (auto-selects region or contour) | Snow API |
/gis/environmental_loads | Get all environmental data in one call | Environmental Loads API |
Tip: Use the dedicated endpoints (
/gis/wind,/gis/snow). They automatically determine whether to use region lookup or contour interpolation based on the country.
Understanding Regional Responses
When querying Nordic locations, the dedicated endpoints (/gis/wind, /gis/snow) internally perform region lookups and return the design value for the geographic zone containing your coordinates.
Response fields for regional data:
riskCategory- Alwaysnullfor Nordic datasets (no risk categories)value- Design value (numeric)unit- Unit string (m/sfor wind,kN/m²for snow)
Fallback Behavior
Nearest Region (Coastal/Border Sites)
If coordinates fall outside all regions:
- API searches for nearest region within 10km
- Returns closest match with a warning in
_warnings
No Region Found
If no region exists within 10km, the response will include a warning indicating no region was found.
Best Practices
Use Dedicated Endpoints
For most use cases, use the dedicated endpoints which handle the complexity for you:
| Data Type | Endpoint | Handles |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | /gis/wind | Auto-selects contour (US) or region (Nordic) |
| Snow | /gis/snow | Auto-selects contour (US) or region (Nordic) |
| Seismic | /gis/seismic | USGS API (US only) |
| All | /gis/environmental_loads | Everything in one call |
Check Warnings
Always check the _warnings array in responses for data quality notes, fallback notifications, or coverage limitations.
Related Documentation
- Wind Data - Wind speed datasets
- Snow Data - Ground snow load datasets
- Seismic Data - Seismic design parameters
- Environmental Loads API - All environmental data in one call