AG-SAG - Full Meeting #2

University of Birmingham, 9 Sept 2003, 10.00-16.00

Supporting Paperwork:

• Current resources to test are linked from the BetaTesting pages. Keith Noddle will email you the username/password to enable access to the AstroGrid portal
• The key science problems are at ScienceProblems
• The milestones are at ScienceMilestonesR01

Agenda:

Location: Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham - see http://www.ph.bham.ac.uk/

from Bill Chaplin:

The meeting will be held in the School of Physics & Astronomy `Library' on the first floor of the Physics West building. You can find general directions to our School at:

http://www.ph.bham.ac.uk/about/directions.htm

Your best bet is to enter via the main entrance to Physics West, which is the entrance nearest the clock tower. Once through the lobby, turn left and go up one flight of stairs to the first floor; then through the double doors straight ahead of you. The `Library' (room B7) is the third room on the right (double doors). If possible I will put up a few signposts to the room.

For those coming by train, the University has its own station (two stops on the cross-city line from Birmingham New Street; take trains to Longbridge or Redditch). Once out of the University station, turn left and head for the clock tower. The Physics West building is close to this (see website map). Directions and assistance for those coming by car can be found at the web link above.

Meeting minutes prepared by NicholasWalton

Status: Draft 10 Sep 2003

Present:

• Carlton Baugh (CB)
• Bill Chaplin (BC)
• Steve Maddox (SM)
• Tony Linde (In attendence) (TL)
• Keith Noddle (In attendence) (KN)
• Nial Tanvir (NT)
• Nicholas Walton (NW)
• Jeremy Yates (JY)

Apologies:

• Lyndsay Fletcher
• Shadia Habbal
• Andrew Jaffe
• Daniel Lennon
• Tom Marsh

0. Summary

Key science led priorities informing AstroGrid development for Iteration 04 were agreed. These were:

• focus on improving ability to analyse imaging (catalogue) data
• work to include some spectral data sets

1. Review of Last Minutes and Actions

The minutes were approved.

2. Decision on Chair

The meeting AGREED that Andrew Jaffe would fill the role of Chair whilst Jeremy Yates would act as the Deputy Chair.

3. Report on Summer Demos

NW reported on the summer demos - see [slides].

NW talked through the Itn02 demo: JY mentioned that 'localhost' in the drop down create myspace box was unclear. (This refers to a machine in leicester, not your own localhost).

ACTION FM2-3 KN: to clarify the names of machines used in myspace creation.

TL: reported that much interest was shown at the IAU General Assembly in techniques to enable uploading of user data/resources into the VO system. He noted that MySpace would be an ideal enabling technology. AstroGrid are actively working on a package (PAL) to enable user publication of data to the VO.

4. Summary of Iteration 3 Deliverables

KN discussed the current Iteration 3 deliverables - see [slides]

KN discussed the work activities where progress is being made: Community, Job Management, Registry, Data Access, MySpace, Grid Technologies.

Community: simple login, distributed authentication, community management GUI, support management through a web service, simple authorization services

Registry: build a management gui. management through a web service

Registry - discussion on problems with UCDs - current non uniqueness problems. Progress being made in the context of IVOA discussion fora,

Data Set access: three data sets available in Itn03.

MySpace: support data holding import and export

discussion on current use of html browswer only - two pane file manipulation to be used in Itn03. Issue of use of applets and perherps clients later.

Grid Technologies: Work on the grid based visualiser.

Issues: Itn02 was a infrastructure iteration. GUIs de-scoped. Use of 'bleeding' edge technology. External commitments. Successes: majority of infrastructure now in place, set to deliver real science.

BC: how is gridftp different from scp? KN: gridftp is closely integrated with Globus.

NT: job monitoring is an issue - errors should be reported (action for coming iterations).

5. Current Technical Issues for Iteration 4

KN noted that key issues for Itn04 are: a focus on enabling science, development of a fully functional GUI, implementing emerging registry stds (from IVOA perhaps), back-filling the infrastructure.

BC: need to think about now about possible technical issues now with solar data sets that may be required in Itn06

ACTION FM2-5 NW: contact Lyndsay, Shadia, Bill re upcoming priority data sets for Itn06 and assess technical issues.

6. Science Focus for Iteration 4 - Spectroscopy

NW noted that Itn02 had a focus on imaging catalogue data. Some progress was made in this area (e.g. queries of USNO-B). Itn04 will aim at bringing in capabilities to focus on simple spectral data sets.

NT: why is not all data that is available in Cambridge, Edinburgh etc not available? KN: AstroGrid is funded to create the infrastructure to make it possible. TL: Effort is required by the data providers to input the data.

SM: Importance of access to existing tabular data - possible integration of what's held in Vizier.

NT: Consider audience - iteration 4 may be limited.

SM: Vizier may be an early target to integrate - brings access to much catalogue data.

JY: concentrate on deep field survey and integration of wide field data (hi-z, brown dwarf case).

JY/AGREED: Prioritisation:

• photometric redshifts of optical/IR data. Aim at WFS data then feed in IR data.
• Tools
  • investigate IDL (for image registration etc) or (py)Iraf.
  • Wrap Hyperz and ANNz (neural network) tools for photometric redshifts.
• Aim to allow access to Vizier tabular data (in cooperation with CDS), and 2dF data (interaction with Aus-VO).

ACTION FM2-6A NW: detailed workflow for these steps.

ACTION FM2-6B BC: look at future Itn06 Solar/STP science priorities, requirements on data access and tools.

ACTION FM2-6C KN: investigate licensing issues for 'grid' use of IDL.

[NW gave a brief run through of the demos over lunch]

7. Discussion on Science for Iteration 4

There was agreement that Itn04 developments would provide testbed science opportunities, with the aim for significant science enabling capability in Itn06.

8. Beta Testing, Iteration 2 and Onwards

NW updated on progress in this area. The beta test programme would commence in earnest with the release of Itn03 - thus early Oct 2003. NW will email the current group of volunteers, AGSAG members and the astronomers within the project with details.

NW noted that beta testing is also required from the 'server side' aimed at system folk who will be required to install AstroGrid components at data centres etc.

ACTION FM2-8 KN: server side beta testing (technical) from Itn05

9. Update on Future Funding - SR2002 eScience Round

NW reported on the current funding proposals for AstroGrid2 and Euro-VO - see [slides].

10. SR2002 - AG2 and Solar/STP

BC noted that with the likely limited support to the UKSSVO proposal, the Solar/STP reps on the AGSAG would continue to highlight science issues of relevance to their communities that might set demands on AstroGrid.

11. Discussion Session

It was AGREED that CB and SM would advise on the use of implementation of photo-z techniques. Also, aim to contact Andy Bunker at the IoA as he is knowledgeable about photometric redshift methods.

NT: can MySpace be used for long term storage of user data in a secure fashion. NW: Myspace will allow secure data storage (data replication, backups) TL: amount of user space will be determined by local universities who provide the resources.

12. AOB

Provisionally Thursday 12 Feb 2004 (~two weeks before the TSP06) at Hatfield (contact NT).

ACTION FM2-12 NW: poll date with AG-SAG members.