eResearch projects

Concept Design Study into the federation of national astronomy datasets

Scheduled for completion 2012

In November 2010 AAL responded to NeCTAR's consultation paper with a vision for the federation of national astronomy data sets leveraging off new facilities due to generate a flood of data within the next few years. This response was informed by the work of the High Performance Computing Working Group (HPCWG), and on advice from AAL's Astronomy eResearch Advisory Committee (AeRAC) is now being pursued further via a Concept Design Study.

Intersect Australia Ltd is undertaking this concept design study and the key deliverable is a final report which encompasses a concept design, detailed project plan and financial model for the identified preferred solution. The study will conclude in 2012.

The results of the study will include a description of the work required to implement the solution, such as the design, build and installation of: data ingestion software systems; IVOA compliant services; high performance database systems; IVOA compliant data access layers; systems and interface tools (including service directories and desktop functionality) specific to a number of existing and proposed astronomical facilities, assets and systems.

The study will also look at key dependencies on existing databases and infrastructure (i.e. data sources), the approach to implementation, including whether a pilot or phased implementation is practical and beneficial and issues of solution, data, metadata ownership and generally issues of information governance relevant to the proposed activities and, as relevant, what these issues might mean to the implementation approach.

The results of the Concept Design Study will inform proposals AAL makes to government for astronomy eResearch funding.

Key Contact

Dr Cameron Maxwell, Intersect