Vision of what the Network wants to achieve

The GeneralObjectives give the high level objectives for the work of this Network within OPTICON. Beside such general aims, it is important to have a clear vision of what the discussions of the Network will achieve and how this relates to other developments in the astronomical community. This page tries to do this by first listing some of the current issues related to data analysis, then stating what must be achieved, and lastly outlining the benefits this will bring.

The major issues facing astronomers who want to analyze their data may be summarized as follows:

• there exists many different systems but:
  • they are largely incompatible with respect to scripting language
  • it is complicated to share data between them
  • interesting application from other systems cannot be easily used
• current systems provide limited interfaces to Web services and archive
• it is difficult to fully exploit available computer resources

To resolve these problems, we must achieve the following things that is to:

• make it possible to use important legacy applications from current systems from a common environment
• provide an easy to use platform for development of new tasks
• increase the ability to collaborate and of sharing of software
• support easy access to resources such as archives, Virtual Observatories, and GRID computing
• improve the efficiency and speed with which one can analyze astronomical data
• offer a platform for discovery by bringing together easy access to astronomical data and state-of-the-art analyzing tools

The success of a system/environment for data analysis is closely linked to the following attributes or points:

• availability of new state-of-the-art applications. This is only achievable if it's easy and attractive for users to develop new tasks in it.
• well tested system. Although the system must be subject to its own regression tests, only actual users will be able to fine subtle issues in application procedures.
• stability. Users have to be sure that their 'investment' in learning and using an environment also pays back in the long run.
• support. Even with good documentation, high stability and excellent testing, the surrounding software world is not fixed demanding a constant although limited surport.

The main aim is to define an environment for astronomical data analysis which provides general users (individuals or small groups) with benefits listed above. Although such a system would be useful also for pipeline reductions of data, it is not the topic for this Network.

-- PrebenGrosbol - 21 Jun 2005
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