DS4: Stage 3 Plan

This is the DS4 Stage 3 Plan as distilled from the presentations and discussion at the Sorrento meeting. Unless stated otherwise all deliverables are due by the end of stage 3 and ready for discussion and review at the stage 4 meeting in Strasbourg.

Stage 3 Task List

For cross DS issues as well as cross partner issues exceeding the scope of DS4 refer to this matrix (.xls).

Description of Tasks

1. AstroScope Improvements

• additional helper apps such as DS9/Gaia for image data
• improved categorisation of result returns (e.g. cats > lists of observations + Observations)
• improved logging such as saving list of service returns
• Heliscope: time data handling

2. Best Fitting Tool

Initiate exploratory analysis of techiques to best-fit of model vs. observed set of observations.

3. Tool robustness

Testing and hardening of current tools to assess use in an operational situation:

• specifically in support of VOTC sci. cases
• applies to parameterised workflows as in redshift maker, AstroScope, TopCat/STILTS etc.

4. TopCat enhancements

• add Solar/Time series support: stack plots, temporal data handling
• additional table format handlers
• R-TopCat interface

5. STILTS/CEA integration

• turn STILTS commands such as tcopy and tmatch2 into CEA applications
• R-STILTS interface
• support ivo:// file refs in STIL for direct MySpace/VOSpace access

6. Aladin/IDL interface

Develop a prototype application using the new Aladin/IDL interface.

7. Positional index for VizieR

Build a positional index as required for efficient cross-matching between VizieR tables and for building density maps.

8. Study and evaluation of low level interfaces

Study and evaluate low level interfaces such as VOApp, PLASTIC, IDL Java Bridge.

9. Xmatch tool

Collect feedback from users on the improved xmatch tool.

10. 3D data access and manipulation

Work out draft proposal with the IVOA DAL WG and build an experimental service at ESO for VLT SINFONI data cubes. Investigate new functionality for manipulation of cubes and FITS extensions in Aladin.

11. Simple footprint description

Produce a specification formatted as IVOA Note together with STScI. Implement use case against ESO archive to visualize instrumental footprints of query result set and collect ESO FoV's in a small library.

12. SED construction

Work focuses on a scenario based ...

• on ESO archive imaging data,
• with an integrated magnitude-to-flux conversion utility,
• a hook to the DS5/CDS SED builder from catalogue data,
• and the initiation of a photometry model specification

13. (SSA) Ranking algorithm

Continuation of algorithmic design together with IVOA DAL WG resulting in a discussion document and prototype release of a ranking service.

14. Optimal processing environment

Continue study on optimal processing environment and best interaction with it like Grid interaction (Asgrogrid/CEA, EGEE) and workflows (AGW, ESSI/JLOW of CDS).

15. TVO data model

Continue development of data model for theoretical VO (TVO) archives allowing easy interaction with observed data.

16. TVO web service prototype

Define a Simple Numerical Access Protocol (SNAP). Develop an alpha version of a service supporting SNAP and propose UCD keywords for it.

17. Virtual Telescope prototype as a TVO client

Implement a Chandra satellite Virtual Telescope prototype using the SNAP prototype

18. Demos for IAU@Prague

Define and contribute to IVOA & EURO-VO/VOTech demo activities at the IVOA demo booth and VO special session.

Appendix: Tasks with IVOA relevance

Principal DS4 Partner Contact Persons

-- MarkusDolensky - 10 Apr 2006