ASTROGRID-2 : Lifetime Plan

May 2005

Part-C : Goals

Our overall goals remain those of the original AstroGrid project, but AstroGrid-2 also has specific additional goals within this setting.

Overall VO goals

The VO is intended to be a system that will

• allow users to interrogate multiple data centres in a seamless and transparent way
• provide powerful new analysis and visualisation tools
• give data centres a standard framework for publishing and delivering services using their data

AstroGrid scientific aims

We aim to :

• improve the quality, efficiency, ease, speed, and cost-effectiveness of on-line astronomical research
• make comparison and integration of data from diverse sources seamless and transparent
• remove data analysis barriers to interdisciplinary research
• make science involving manipulation of large datasets as easy and as powerful as possible

AstroGrid practical goals

We aim to :

• develop, with our IVOA partners, internationally agreed standards for data, metadata, data exchange and provenance
• develop a software infrastructure for data resources
• deploy a physical grid of resources across key data centres
• develop a searchable, self-replicating and easily manageable resource registry
• implement a working Virtual Observatory system based around key UK databases and of real scientific use to astronomers
• provide a user interface to that VO system
• provide, either by construction or by adaptation, a set of science user tools to work with that VO system
• establish a leading position for the UK in VO work

AstroGrid-2 goals

We aim to :

• expand, revise and improve the core infrastructure
• provide a suite of science user tools, and set up a system for responding to personalised user needs
• research and deploy new automated resource discovery techniques - AstroOntology and Intelligent Agents
• research and deploy techniques in Grid technology, visualisation and datamining, creating an AstroGrid Data Exploration Framework (ADEF)

The original AstroGrid-2 proposal had two additional goals. We were not funded to carry out these activities, but if additional funds were found we would aim to :

• create a UK Data Centre Alliance, and provide co-ordinated effort to take up VO and Grid technology
• develop dedicated outreach software to allow schools and the public to access the Virtual Observatory

-- AndyLawrence - 02 May 2005