DCAT-AP-LU Metadata Profile

DCAT-AP-LU is a technical standard that allows you to describe your data in a clear, structured and interoperable manner. This Luxembourg application profile of the European DCAT-AP standard defines precisely how to catalogue your datasets, as well as their distributions and data services. The standard is currently based on two fundamental concepts: the Dataset (the conceptual entity representing your data) and the Distribution (the different physical representations of your data, such as a CSV, JSON or PDF file). Each element has mandatory and recommended properties: a title and description in plain language are always required, while other information such as update frequency, thematic keywords or access restrictions enrich your metadata. DCAT-AP-LU also incorporates essential national specificities, particularly for documenting types of data protection and managing legal aspects related to data reuse in the context of the Data Governance Act.

The controlled vocabularies of DCAT-AP-LU ensure the consistency of your descriptions. The standard uses taxonomies specific to Luxembourg (such as a list of public sector bodies) while remaining compatible with European catalogues. To make your work easier, each property is documented with concrete examples, recommendations for use and links to the official vocabularies to be used.

Your metadata is the 'window' for your data – an accurate and comprehensive description making it easier to find, assesses its relevance for potential re-users and reduces erroneous requests for data access and re-use. Consult the comprehensive documentation to explore all the technical details, available vocabularies and user guides specific to each subject!