Transcript Con - ESA-VO Intro

Concluding remarks
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Why this meeting?
• Discussion at the kick-off
meeting of the Euro-VO
Data Centre Alliance
Coordination Action: topics
of interest for several
partners >>> Spectroscopy
• Organised jointly by the
EuroVO DCA and Facility
Centre
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
• The VO development began not so long ago (~2001)
• Interoperability is the key, and the VO has to be worldwide > mandatory to agree on common standards
• A huge amount of work at the international level and in the
national projects and VO teams to build the standards
Some standards have been adopted a few years ago
already, the first version of the others ~ ready
• The next phase (uptake by data providers/widespread
usage by the community) is beginning
• Need to have a direct contact between the VO community
and the users/data providers for information and feedback
• VO events in large astronomy meetings (e.g., IAU) useful
for general information but frustrating (not focussed
enough?)
• thus this Workshop
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Lessons learnt (1)
• Not only for the VO teams: the VO increases the
incentive on data producers to provide the proper
data characterization and ‘science ready’ data
• Likely to increase the impact of data centres and
services by allowing seamless access and access
combined with access to other data and services
• A huge diversity in data and service providers,
from large organisations to small teams willing to
share their expertise (‘niche’ data or services) with
not much manpower, and in the data
volume/service scope
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Lessons learnt (2)
• Two fundamental aspects for the VO teams:
– Help the data and service providers to publish their data and
services in the VO, taking into account their specificities
– Take into account the science needs (yes, the VO IS science
driven)
• More has to be done on providing templates for data
providers, information on available tools, on-line tutorials,
…
• Workshop in June at ESAC, another one in 2008 at ESO
• DCA can provide travel money for discussion with VO
specialists from another country
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Among key topics (1)
• Easy basic implementation and usage – more
advanced layer for advanced functionalities but
limited overhead for providing and using ‘simple’
access
• We need the standards NOW
• Proper data characterization, including
– Information on data quality, incl. errors, propagation of
this information, usage it in tools
– Proper description and propagation of producer and
curator information (so that they get proper credit)
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Among key topics (2)
• Scalability, incl. data mining in large surveys
• Allow different levels of compliance, full characterization
information not necessary for some bona fide usages
• Pressure of users on data providers to get the proper
metadata
• Communication between tools (PLASTIC, workflows)
• Wrapping of legacy services would help community
acceptance – but good new tools should be given a chance!
• Many tools and services with nearby aims > how to help
users to choose the proper ones (the best for his/her
specific needs, ‘the best one’) ?
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Conclusions (1)
• Seen from the VO teams, the discussions have
been very useful
• There will be a report to EuroVO and IVOA on
the community needs and feedback
• The VO will not do everything but can do a lot
• Lots of expectations (which reinforces our
motivation), not so bad standards and first tools,
lots remain to be done, and now we know more
about it
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007
Conclusions (2)
• In some countries significant triggering work on
the topic beforehand
• More interest from the community than we
expected, well beyond the usual ‘VO-addicts’
• Seems to be a good format
• New roles for IVOA and the VO projects
• Many thanks to the invited reviewers and to all
participants for their commitment, and to our
colleagues from Japan and USA
F. Genova, Spectroscopy & VO Workshop, Madrid, March 2007