Code Lists and How to Use Them

For several properties in DCAT-AP-NO standard, you must refer to a code from a controlled vocabulary. For example, you must select a code from the EU's vocabulary Data Theme when specifying the theme for a dataset using the property dcat:theme. The codes are organized in lists or hierarchical structures and are named with a URI like any other RDF resource.

How to Specify Theme

Datasets and Data Services use the property dcat:theme to specify one or more themes relevant to the dataset.

For datasets, you must specify a code from one of the EU's vocabularies Data Theme. You should also specify a code from Los. Additionally, you can use codes from other vocabularies, such as EuroVoc from the EU, but this is optional.

Data Theme

This is a relatively small code list that contains some very general themes.

Examples of codes from Data Theme

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .

# A dataset about economy and finance
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:theme <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/data-theme/ECON> .

# A dataset about education
<https://example.org/datasett2> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:theme <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/data-theme/EDUC> .

# A dataset about education as well as technology
<https://example.org/datasett3> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:theme  <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/data-theme/EDUC> ,
                <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/data-theme/TECH> .

Los

Los is a common vocabulary that is thematically organized to categorize and describe public services and resources.

Examples of codes from Los

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .

# A dataset about taxes
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:theme <https://psi.norge.no/los/tema/skatt> .

EuroVoc

EuroVoc is a large thesaurus (hierarchy) with many codes organized in a hierarchical structure.

Examples of codes from EuroVoc

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .

# Dataset about deep sea fishing
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:theme <http://eurovoc.europa.eu/2306> .

How to Specify Coverage Area

We use the property dct:spatial to indicate a coverage area, that is, a geographical area that the dataset covers. If the value exists in one of the EU vocabularies, these should be used; if not, values from GeoNames should be used.

EU Vocabularies

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset that geograpically covers Europe
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:spatial <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/continent/EUROPE> .

# A dataset that geograpically covers Norway
<https://example.org/datasett2> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:spatial <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/country/NOR> .

# A dataset that geograpically covers the place Tromsø
<https://example.org/datasett3> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:spatial <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/place/NOR_TOS> .

GeoNames

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset that geograpically covers Brønnøysund
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:spatial <https://www.geonames.org/3159954> .

# A dataset that geograpically covers Jotunheimen and Rondane national park
<https://example.org/datasett2> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:spatial <https://www.geonames.org/3150707> ,
                <https://www.geonames.org/3141389> .

How to Specify License

We use the property dct:license to indicate which license applies to a catalog, dataset, data service, or distribution. The value should be chosen from the EU's controlled vocabulary License.

Examples of Codes from License

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset with CC0 license
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:license <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/licence/CC0> .

How to Specify Format

We use the property dct:format to indicate which format a data service or distribution offers. The value should be chosen from the EU's controlled vocabulary File Type.

Examples of Codes from File Type

Examples of Use

With distribution:

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset that is distributed in a CSV format
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dcat:distribution <https://example.org/distribution1> .

<https://example.org/distribution1> a dcat:Distribution ;
    dct:format <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/file-type/CSV> .

With data service:

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset made available through an API that offers JSON
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset .

<https://example.org/dataservice1> a dcat:DataService ;
    dcat:servesDataset <https://example.org/datasett1> ;
    dct:format <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/file-type/JSON> .

How to Specify Language

We use the property dct:language to indicate which language the dataset is in. The value should be chosen from the EU's controlled vocabulary Language.

Examples of Codes from Language

Examples of Use

@prefix dcat: <http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#> .
@prefix dct:  <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .

# A dataset Datasett that is available in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Northern Sami
<https://example.org/datasett1> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:language <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/language/NOB> ,
                 <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/language/NNO> ,
                 <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/language/SME> .

# A dataset Datasett that is available in English
<https://example.org/datasett2> a dcat:Dataset ;
    dct:language <http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/language/ENG> .