Recommendations of Science Archive Workshop

Summary

An effective Gemini science archive is technically and scientifically viable due in large part to the nature of the progressive planning and operations inherent in the Gemini queue observing mode, the phase I & II observation planning process, the engineering archive, and the data processing pipelines.

The prioritized requirements for a Gemini science archive are:

Level 1 - Fundamental Requirements

• Secure data storage (G, A)
• Access control mechanisms (A)
• Access to all descriptors necessary to understand the data, including basic information and science abstract from the original science program(G)
• Electronic logging to facilitate calibration (G)
• Monitoring of atmospheric conditions (G)
• Minimum level of calibration material always obtained (G)
  - including classical observations

Level 2 - Key Capabilities

• Easy access and use (A)
• Quick-look data reduction pipelines (G)
• Data quality assessment (G)
• Archive raw data (A)
• Online storage of science data (A)
  - science catalogue, calibration frames, pipeline processing
• Online science catalogue of archive data (A)
  - mirror capabilities in partner countries
  - in scientific units
  - with environmental information
• Science catalogue search capabilities (A)
• Retrieval and delivery systems (A) - both network and physical delivery
• Previews of data (A)
  - compressed visualization

Level 3 - Advanced Capabilities

• Advanced search capabilities (A)
• On-the-fly recalibration (A, G)
  - with best reference files
• Cross-referencing to other archives (A)
  - cross-archive queries
  - multi-archive queries
• Visualizations and plotting tools (A)
• Data mining capabilities (A)

The letters "A" and "G" indicate whether the function was seen as primarily the responsibility (A) of the science archive or (G) of Gemini.

Last update January 28, 1999; Ted von Hippel