Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 1
A New Geodetic Research Data Management System at the
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
G.L. Coetzer1, R.C. Botha1, W.L. Combrinck1,2, C.J.S. Fourie2
1. Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO), South Africa
2. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa
7th Conference of the
Library and Information Services in Astronomy
17-20 June 2014, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy
Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 2
Current facilities:
SAAO
HartRAO
Under construction:
MeerKAT and
Square Km Array
Planned:
African VLBI
SA Science is transforming
Co-Located Academic Seismology Network
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Instruments at HartRAO
Anemometer
Met4 Weatherstation
Global NavigationSatellite Systemsreference station
Seismic station insideunderground vault
Lunar Laser Ranger
Satellite Laser Ranger
26m Radio dish
15m Radio dish
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New geo-seismic network
• Collaborative project between HartRAO and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
• Establish a network of 12+ seismic and GNSS stations across Southern Africa
Station equipment:
• Geodetic-level GNSS receiver and antenna
• Broad-band seismometer
• Broad-band seismic accelerometer
• Digitiser to capture the seismic data
• Communications and control system
• Gravimeter*
• Metrology system*
* Only at certain core sites
Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 5
Planning a new data system
Current data storage and management systems at HartRAO will need to be upgraded because:
• the current old technology cannot handle the required data volumes
• procedures used for archiving data and providing access to it are outdated
Planning of a new Geodetic Research Data Management System (GRDMS) started in 2012 and was approached from the perspectives of the researcher, librarian and IT specialist.
Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 6
Roles of researchers and IT specialists
Role of the researcher: • Determines the need for different types of data to
support a range of research activities• Various instruments may be utilised for the
gathering of data • Data organisation into functional sets for practical
use and application
Role of IT specialist: • Understands the data and organisation of datasets
from a research perspective• Implements archiving • Provides access channels
Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 7
Role of the librarian
• Data and metadata management
• User assistance
• Troubleshooting
• Reporting
• Tracking data use
Presented on 18 June 2014 at LISA VII, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy 8
A new Geodetic Research Data Management System
• Use same approach for different techniques’ data• Datasets to be grouped into main categories according to technique /
instrument Data type Storage unit Folder structure MB /
station / day
Current Space GB
Required Space GB*
SLR Satellite pass Year/DoY/ 10 1 37
LLR Tracking session Year/DoY/ 10 0 37
VLBI (products) per experiment Year/DoY/ExpName/ 10 1 37
GNSS Daily 24hr Year/DoY/ 1 93 150
Seismic (12) Daily 24hr Year/DoY/ 1200 20 52650
Gravimetric Daily 24hr Year/DoY/ 1 0 4
Metrological Daily 24hr Year/DoY/ 5 1 18
Tide Gauge Daily 24hr Year/DoY/ 1 1 4
1238 117 52937
* For the next 10 years
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GRDMS functional units
• Data Collection and Storage: receive, organise, check, archive and quality control.
• Data Processing: raw data into basic products and custom data products
• Data Access: online system provides direct access to raw and basic data products, options for customised data products
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GRDMS data cycles
• Internal Steps [SI]: Data collection, formatting and organising• External Steps [SE]: Retrieval of raw and basic data• Custom Steps [SC]: Custom requests for processed data products
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Progress thus far
Basis of GRDMS already in place:
• Four servers procured
• Data, software and scripts transferred from previous systems for continuity
• Basic network structures and mapping of datasets implemented, currently in test-phase
• New scripts and processing systems being developed, tested via various student projects
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Future plans and integrations
• DOI: Digital Object Identifier
• CDDIS: Crustal Dynamics Data Information System
• IRIS: Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
• IDC: International Data Centre
• ILRS: International Laser Ranging Service
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Acknowledgements
The authors thankfully acknowledge:
• The funding awarded by the National Equipment Programme (NEP) of the NRF to start the development of the Co-Located Academic Network.
• The funding awarded from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) for a collaborative project between HartRAO and TUT
• Friends of LISA (FoL) for the travel sponsorship.