“Virtual Observatories” as a Paradigm for Integration of Data from Many Sources

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.4.A11

Author

Dr. Larry Paxton, The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States

Year

2008

Abstract

One of the challenges in the basic research, commercial and government sector is providing the right data to the right user within the required time frame with the lowest possible net cost. In the simplest case, there are two different models for data use: 1) build a dedicated satellite and provide data to a particular user with an associated data processing and distribution system or 2) the potential user must try to find out what data could be useful and then figure out how to get and interpret that data. The second class of user is the main audience of this talk. 

Small satellite missions are more highly constrained by costs and instrument complement than larger missions. As a consequence, the efficient use of resources to address the users needs is important to the success and perception of cost-effectiveness of the mission. The Virtual Observatory model is an innovative solution to part of the problem of getting the right data to the user. 


A virtual observatory serves as an interface to a broad range of data. Just as a traditional observatory serves as a common facility with common tools to meet a wide range of needs, the virtual observatory of VO serves to provide tools for the identification of useful data. The VO is not a repository for data – it is the glue that connects the user to the data. A VO’s function is to provide an interface to a variety of data sets that may be in widely differing formats from different kinds of instruments on different platforms (ground, aircraft and spacecraft) as well as model output. VO’s are generally driven by a relatively broad user community and require, among other things, some definition of data standards and a common dictionary that enables searches of the data. The VO’s functional boundary is at the delivery of extracted data set. The user then has data in a common format (perhaps HDF) and builds their own applications to analyze the data.  The economy of scale is that many users can use many data sets in different ways. Examples from a variety of applications will be provided.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.4.A11.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.4.A11.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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