From: Steven Tingay
Subject: Re: SSWG call for abstracts etc
Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 09:45:24 +1000 (EST)


Hi Jan,

I for one think that your proposal has a lot of merit.  Doing
as much as possible via the web would make sense for a widely
distributed group of people like the SSWG and would make useful
results readily available.  All of the advantages you have
outlined are very positive.

Perhaps you could distribute the plots that you have mentioned
to the group and we can see if anyone is interested in implementing
a web-based SKA concept module.

Cheers, Steven

On Thu, 8 May 2003, Jan Noordam wrote:

>
> Steven Tingay writes:
> > So, at this point I'd like to invite you all to submit abstracts
> > for the SSWG workshop in Geraldton.  We have half a day for the
> > workshop programme on Thursday July 31.  Please let me know if
> > you would like to give an oral presentation, poster presentation,
> > or both.  Oral presentations will probably each have a duration
> > of 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the topic.
> > I hope to be able to schedule presentations on a broad range of
> > simulation issues while focusing on the most important topics facing
> > the SSWG, also allowing plenty of time for round-table discussions.
>
> An ambitious program for a half-day meeting. But not impossible if we
> contrive to do a lot of preparatory work, either by email or at the
> IAU. In that context, I would like to offer the following idea:
>
> Recently, we have put some effort into generating a few plots where
> the performance of the various SKA concepts can be compared with each
> other. One example is a plot of (Aeff/Tsys) vs observing frequency,
> which clearly points towards a hybrid SKA. Richard Schilizzi, who sat
> in as an observer, found these plots rather helpful, and encouraged us
> to convey them to the chairman of the SKA EMT. However, the problem is
> that, as Douglas Bock remarked, the published papers on the various
> concepts are often less than clear (or even honest) about the
> assumptions, equations and parameter values that underlie their
> claims.
>
> I think that it would be within the remit of the SSWG to create a
> mechanism to 'cause' more of these plots, with the correct numbers.
> I propose that the SSWG develop a web-based (JAVA?) template of a
> module that describes a SKA concept. These modules should then be
> filled and maintained by the various proposers themselves, subject to
> the following requirements:
>
>  -) A module can offer any number of buttons that the user can push to
>   see all kinds of plots, pictures, text etc. Obviously, there should
>   be a way for the user to edit the various parameters, like zenith
>   angle, Trec, nr and size of stations, etc.
>
>  -) But each module also has a number of *required* functions, which
>   return specific information in a specific format. An example would
>   be the abovementioned Aeff/Tsys a a function of frequency. Other
>   examples are cost/m2, station beamshape, PSF, sky coverage, array
>   layout, etc. This would enable SSWG routines (which would also be
>   available on the web) to generate overview plots in which concepts
>   can be compared.
>
>  -) There should be some agreement about names and definitions of
>   the basic parameters, so that it is easy to compare the various
>   equations. Needless to say, these equations must be produced by a
>   required function.
>
>  -) Each module could be required to make use of a small number of
>   common routines supplied by the SSWG, e.g. for the sky noise as a
>   function of frequency.
>
> Such a scheme would have a powerful focussing effect on the SKA
> community. Not only would anyone be able to play with the parameters
> of all the concepts on the web, but the proposers would have to think
> hard about their numbers and equations, and how to present them. And
> last but not least, it would focus the work of the SSWG itself.
>
>
> > Finally, at Swinburne we have started a web page to pull together
> > different SSWG documents and communications.  We will archive all
> > email communications of the SSWG here (please note that we will
> > remove all email addresses from the communications before they are
> > archived on the web page).  Please see the following URL and follow
> > the SKA SWG link on the side frame: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/ska/
>
> If you feel this idea has any merit, it might be vastly helpful if a
> first version of the module template and overview functions would be
> available in Geraldton. This would only take a a week by a clever
> student who knows JAVA, because he/she could use the plots that Jan
> Geralt bij de Vaate (sorry about the complicated Dutch name, see email
> list above) as a starting point.
>
> Finally, I have submitted an abstract to Peter Hall for a talk about
> the LOFAR processing system at the 'main' Geraldton meeting. If
> granted, this might also be relevant to the SSWG discussions.
>
> Cheers,
> Jan