DCAT-US 3.0: Dataset

Information about a dataset, including identifiers, contacts, coverage, distributions, and related resources.

A collection of data published or curated by one provider

Example:

{
    "@type": "Dataset",
    "title": "Daily Climate Observations 2024",
    "description": "Daily temperature, precipitation, and wind measurements from monitoring stations across the United States.",
    "identifier": "https://example.gov/datasets/climate-observations-2024",
    "contactPoint": {
        "fn": "Climate Data Support",
        "hasEmail": "mailto:climate@example.gov"
    },
    "publisher": {
        "name": "National Climate Data Center"
    },
    "keyword": [
        "climate",
        "weather",
        "temperature",
        "precipitation"
    ],
    "issued": "2024-01-15",
    "modified": "2024-06-01",
    "accrualPeriodicity": "daily",
    "accessRights": "public",
    "landingPage": {
        "@id": "https://example.gov/climate-data",
        "@type": "Document",
        "title": "Climate Data Landing Page"
    },
    "describedBy": {
        "@id": "https://example.gov/climate-data/data-dictionary",
        "@type": "Distribution",
        "title": "Data Dictionary",
        "mediaType": "application/pdf"
    },
    "spatial": {
        "@type": "Location",
        "bbox": {
            "type": "Polygon",
            "coordinates": [
                [
                    [
                        -125.0,
                        24.0
                    ],
                    [
                        -66.0,
                        24.0
                    ],
                    [
                        -66.0,
                        50.0
                    ],
                    [
                        -125.0,
                        50.0
                    ],
                    [
                        -125.0,
                        24.0
                    ]
                ]
            ]
        }
    },
    "theme": [
        "Climate Science"
    ],
    "distribution": [
        {
            "title": "Climate Data CSV",
            "downloadURL": "https://example.gov/downloads/climate-2024.csv",
            "mediaType": "text/csv"
        }
    ],
    "rights": [
        "Data is provided as-is without warranty. Please cite the National Climate Data Center when using this data."
    ],
    "temporal": [
        {
            "@type": "PeriodOfTime",
            "startDate": "2024-01-01",
            "endDate": "2024-12-31"
        }
    ]
}

Dataset > @id #

Requirement: Optional

Example:

"https://example.gov/datasets/national-climate-observations-2024"

Dataset > @type #

Requirement: Optional

Dataset > otherIdentifier #

Requirement: Optional

Additional identifiers for the dataset besides the main identifier, such as a DOI or other persistent ID

| Type | null or array of Identifier classes | | ——– | ———————————————————————————— |

Dataset > sample #

Requirement: Optional

List of sample distributions for the dataset

| Type | null or array of Distribution classes | | ——– | ————————————————————— |

Dataset > status #

Title: lifecycle status

Requirement: Optional

Lifecycle status of the dataset, such as completed, deprecated, under development, or withdrawn

Dataset > status > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > status > anyOf > Concept #

inline description of Concept

Dataset > supportedSchema #

Requirement: Optional

supported schema for this dataset

Dataset > supportedSchema > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > supportedSchema > anyOf > Dataset #

inline description of the supported schema

See Also: (related supporting classes)

Dataset > versionNotes #

Requirement: Optional

Notes describing how this version differs from earlier versions of the dataset

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"Initial release of 2024 climate observations data."

Dataset > contactPoint #

Requirement: Mandatory

A contact point for questions about the Dataset (single contact or list). Include an email address that is continuously monitored

Dataset > contactPoint > anyOf > Kind #

inline description of Kind

Dataset > contactPoint > anyOf > List of contacts #

| Type | array of Kind classes | | ——– | —————————————– |

Dataset > distribution #

Title: dataset distribution

Requirement: Recommended

List of available distributions for the dataset. This can be omitted when no distribution is available yet.

| Type | null or array of Distribution classes | | ——– | ————————————————————— |

Dataset > first #

Requirement: Optional

the first item of the sequence the dataset belongs to

Dataset > first > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > first > anyOf > Dataset #

inline description of Dataset

See Also: (related supporting classes)

Dataset > hasCurrentVersion #

Title: current version

Requirement: Optional

reference to the current (latest) version of a dataset

Dataset > hasCurrentVersion > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > hasCurrentVersion > anyOf > Dataset #

inline description of Dataset

See Also: (related supporting classes)

Dataset > hasVersion #

Requirement: Optional

List of related Datasets that are a version, edition, or adaptation of the described Dataset

| Type | null or array of Dataset classes | | ——– | —————————————————– |

Dataset > inSeries #

Requirement: Optional

Dataset series this dataset belongs to

| Type | null or array of DatasetSeries classes | | ——– | —————————————————————— |

Dataset > keyword #

Title: keyword/tag

Requirement: Recommended

List of keywords or tags describing the dataset

| Type | null or array of string | | ——– | ———————– |

Examples:

[
    "climate",
    "weather",
    "temperature",
    "precipitation"
]

[
    "climate",
    "weather",
    "temperature",
    "precipitation",
    "humidity",
    "wind",
    "meteorology"
]

Non-empty string #

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > landingPage #

Requirement: Recommended

A web page from the original data provider that gives access to the Dataset, its Distributions, and related information

Dataset > landingPage > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > landingPage > anyOf > Document #

inline description of Document

Dataset > previousVersion #

Requirement: Optional

reference to the previous dataset version

Dataset > previousVersion > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > previousVersion > anyOf > Dataset #

inline description of Dataset

See Also: (related supporting classes)

Dataset > qualifiedRelation #

Requirement: Optional

Detailed relationship between the dataset and another resource, including the role of that relationship

| Type | null or array of Relationship classes | | ——– | —————————————————————————————- |

Dataset > spatialResolutionInMeters #

Title: Spatial resolution (meters)

Requirement: Optional

Smallest spatial distance between data points, in meters, represented as a single value

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"1000"

Dataset > temporalResolution #

Requirement: Optional

Smallest time interval between data points, using xsd:duration format (for example, P1D)

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"P1D"

Dataset > theme #

Title: theme/category

Requirement: Recommended

List of themes or categories for the dataset

| Type | null or array of Concept classes | | ——– | —————————————————————————— |

Dataset > version #

Requirement: Optional

The version indicator (name or identifier) of a resource

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"2024.1"

Dataset > describedBy #

Title: data dictionary

Requirement: Recommended

A distribution describing the Data Dictionary for this dataset

Dataset > describedBy > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > describedBy > anyOf > Distribution #

inline description of Distribution

See Also: (related supporting classes)

Dataset > liabilityStatement #

Requirement: Optional

A liability statement about the dataset that may clarify limitations of responsibility, qualifications on the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the data, or absence of endorsement by the data publisher or provider, among other considerations

Example:

"This dataset is provided as-is without warranty of any kind. Users are responsible for determining fitness for their intended use."

Dataset > liabilityStatement > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > liabilityStatement > anyOf > item 1 #

Full text of the liability statement

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > metadataDistribution #

Requirement: Optional

Distribution of the original metadata document this dataset was derived from

| Type | null or array of Distribution classes | | ——– | ————————————————————— |

Dataset > purpose #

Requirement: Optional

The purpose of the dataset

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"To provide comprehensive, high-quality climate observations for research, planning, and decision-making related to weather and climate."

Dataset > accessRights #

Requirement: Optional

Information about whether the dataset is publicly accessible, restricted, or not public

Examples:

"public"

"Public access with no restrictions. Data is freely available for download and use."

Dataset > accessRights > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > accessRights > anyOf > item 1 #

Text description of the access rights

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > accrualPeriodicity #

Title: frequency

Requirement: Optional

The frequency at which the Dataset is updated

Example:

"daily"

Dataset > accrualPeriodicity > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > accrualPeriodicity > anyOf > item 1 #

ISO 19115 Maintenance Frequency code

| Type | enum (of string) | | ——– | —————— |

Must be one of:

• “continual”
• “daily”
• “weekly”
• “fortnightly”
• “monthly”
• “quarterly”
• “biannually”
• “annually”
• “asNeeded”
• “irregular”
• “notPlanned”
• “unknown”

Dataset > accrualPeriodicity > anyOf > item 2 #

ISO-8601 Maintenance Frequency code for recurring values, see https://www.iso.org/standard/70907.html

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > accrualPeriodicity > anyOf > item 3 #

Dublin Core Collection Frequency Vocabulary, see https://www.dublincore.org/specifications/dublin-core/collection-description/frequency/#vocabulary-terms

| Type | enum (of string) | | ——– | —————— |

Must be one of:

• “continuous”
• “daily”
• “weekly”
• “biweekly”
• “monthly”
• “quarterly”
• “semiannual”
• “annual”
• “irregular”
• “triennial”
• “biennial”
• “threeTimesAYear”
• “bimonthly”
• “semimonthly”
• “threeTimesAMonth”
• “semiweekly”
• “threeTimesAWeek”

Dataset > conformsTo #

Requirement: Optional

List of standards, schemas, or profiles the dataset follows

| Type | null or array of Standard classes | | ——– | ——————————————————————— |

Dataset > contributor #

Requirement: Optional

List of agents contributing to the Dataset

| Type | null or array of Agent classes | | ——– | ————————————————— |

Dataset > created #

Title: creation date

Requirement: Optional

The date on which the Dataset was first created

Examples:

"2024-01-01"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Dataset > created > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > created > anyOf > Date string #

Dataset > created > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 0 #

Dataset > created > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 1 #

Dataset > created > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 2 #

A year in YYYY format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > created > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 3 #

A year and month in YYYY-MM format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > creator #

Requirement: Optional

Person or organization responsible for creating the dataset

Dataset > creator > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > creator > anyOf > Agent #

inline description of Agent

Dataset > description #

Requirement: Mandatory

Plain-language summary of the dataset

Examples:

"Daily temperature, precipitation, and wind measurements from monitoring stations across the United States."

"Comprehensive daily climate observations collected from monitoring stations across the United States, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind measurements."

Dataset > hasPart #

Requirement: Optional

List of related datasets that are part of the described dataset

| Type | null or array of Dataset classes | | ——– | —————————————————– |

Dataset > identifier #

Requirement: Mandatory

The unique identifier for the Dataset, e.g. the URI or other unique identifier in the context of the Catalog

Dataset > identifier > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > identifier > anyOf > Identifier #

inline description of Identifier

Dataset > isReferencedBy #

Requirement: Optional

List of links to related resources, such as publications, that reference, cite, or otherwise point to the Dataset

| Type | null or array of string | | ——– | ———————– |

Example:

[
    "https://example.gov/publications/climate-trends-2024"
]

Link #

reference iri of Resource

Dataset > issued #

Title: release date

Requirement: Optional

Date when the dataset was first published. If the exact publication date is unknown, use the date it was first referenced in the catalog.

Examples:

"2024-01-15"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Date string #

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 0 #

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 1 #

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 2 #

A year in YYYY format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > issued > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 3 #

A year and month in YYYY-MM format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > language #

Requirement: Optional

ISO 639-1 language code values used in the dataset text or metadata, such as en or es, full list can be seen at https://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/iso639-1.html

Example:

[
    "en"
]

Dataset > language > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > language > anyOf > Language code #

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > language > anyOf > List of languages #

| Type | array of string | | ——– | ————— |

Language code #

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > modified #

Title: last modified

Requirement: Recommended

Most recent date when the dataset’s actual data changed, not just metadata

Examples:

"2024-06-01"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Date string #

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 0 #

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 1 #

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 2 #

A year in YYYY format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > modified > anyOf > Date string > anyOf > item 3 #

A year and month in YYYY-MM format

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > provenance #

Requirement: Optional

List of statements about the lineage of a Dataset, including any changes in its ownership or custody since its creation that may be significant for its authenticity, integrity, or interpretation

| Type | null or array of string | | ——– | ———————– |

Example:

[
    "Data collected from automated weather stations deployed at 2,500 locations across the continental United States.",
    "Quality control procedures applied according to WMO guidelines."
]

Array Item #

Full text of the provenance statement

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > publisher #

Requirement: Mandatory

Organization responsible for publishing and making the dataset available

Dataset > relation #

Title: related resource

Requirement: Optional

List of links to related resources when the relationship is not otherwise specified

| Type | null or array of string | | ——– | ———————– |

Example:

[
    "https://example.gov/datasets/historical-climate-averages"
]

Link #

reference iri of Resource

Dataset > replaces #

Requirement: Optional

List of Datasets replaced by this Dataset

| Type | null or array of Dataset classes | | ——– | —————————————————– |

Dataset > rights #

Requirement: Recommended

Rights statements not already covered by license or accessRights, such as copyright or policy restrictions

| Type | null or array of string | | ——– | ———————– |

Examples:

[
    "Data is provided as-is without warranty. Please cite the National Climate Data Center when using this data."
]

[
    "This data is in the public domain and may be used without restriction."
]

Array Item #

Full text of a statement of rights

| Type | string | | ——– | ——– |

Dataset > rightsHolder #

Requirement: Optional

List of agents (organizations) holding rights on the Dataset

| Type | null or array of Organization classes | | ——– | —————————————————————– |

Dataset > source #

Title: data source

Requirement: Optional

List of related Datasets from which the described Dataset is derived

| Type | null or array of Dataset classes | | ——– | —————————————————– |

Dataset > spatial #

Title: spatial/geographic coverage

Requirement: Recommended

A geographic region or regions that are covered by the Dataset

Dataset > spatial > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > spatial > anyOf > Location #

inline description of Location

Dataset > spatial > anyOf > List of geographic regions #

| Type | array of Location classes | | ——– | ——————————————————————- |

Dataset > subject #

Requirement: Optional

List of primary subjects for the dataset, usually narrower than broad theme categories

| Type | null or array of Concept classes | | ——– | —————————————————————————— |

Dataset > temporal #

Title: temporal coverage

Requirement: Recommended

Time periods covered by the dataset

| Type | null or array of PeriodOfTime classes | | ——– | ————————————————————————————- |

Dataset > title #

Requirement: Mandatory

Human-readable title of the dataset

Examples:

"Daily Climate Observations 2024"

"National Climate Observations 2024"

Dataset > category #

Requirement: Optional

List of high-level categories for the dataset

| Type | null or array of Concept classes | | ——– | —————————————————————————— |

Dataset > hasQualityMeasurement #

Title: quality measurement

Requirement: Optional

List of quality measurements for the dataset (for example, completeness, accuracy, or timeliness) beyond spatial or temporal resolution

| Type | null or array of QualityMeasurement classes | | ——– | ———————————————————————————————— |

Dataset > page #

Title: documentation

Requirement: Optional

List of pages or documents about this dataset

| Type | null or array of Document classes | | ——– | ——————————————————————— |

Dataset > qualifiedAttribution #

Requirement: Optional

List of agents with specific responsibilities for the dataset

| Type | null or array of Attribution classes | | ——– | ————————————————————————— |

Dataset > wasAttributedTo #

Title: attribution

Requirement: Optional

List of agents attributed to this dataset

| Type | null or array of Agent classes | | ——– | ————————————————— |

Dataset > wasGeneratedBy #

Requirement: Optional

List of activities that generated, or provide the business context for the creation of the dataset

| Type | null or array of Activity classes | | ——– | ————————————————————————— |

Dataset > wasUsedBy #

Title: used by

Requirement: Optional

List of activities that used the Dataset

| Type | null or array of Activity classes | | ——– | ————————————————————————— |

Dataset > image #

Requirement: Optional

Thumbnail image illustrating the dataset, especially useful for visual data such as maps, photos, or video

Dataset > image > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

| Type | null | | ——– | —— |

Dataset > image > anyOf > Link #

The link to the image

Dataset > scopeNote #

Title: usage note

Requirement: Optional

usage note for the dataset

| Type | null or string | | ——– | —————- |

Example:

"This dataset contains raw observational data. For derived products such as monthly averages or climate normals, see related datasets."

See Also: (related supporting classes)