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3rd November 2004 Hoyle committee meeting room 10.00 - 13:20
(inc. coffee & lunch - luxury)
Present: JRL, PSB, MJI, DWE, STH, EGS, WJS, RGM, NAW
Agenda
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1. Actions from last meeting
2. Comments on WFAU minutes
3. JAC telecons and WFCAM commissioning
4. ADASS report
5. ESO docs for FDR - in particular ETC & DRLD
6. Report for VDMT meeting
7. Grant application news
8. APM building news
9. AOB CASU report to staff meeting
retiring cass38 disks
Minutes
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1. Actions from last meeting
MJI has made some progress in comparing the FIRES project reduced data
with ours. The comparison has been simplified by generating CASU
catalogues from the FIRES reduced images - this removes any catalog
incompatiblity problems. So far the FIRES seeing-weighted stacked
images are ~0.2 magnitude deeper than CASU stacked images. MJI will
also test a CASU seeing-weighted stacking procedure - ongoing <<<<
STH has generated some MSBs for the GCS (about half way through). He will
not be doing this for each survey. That is the job of the survey
heads - ongoing <<<<
JRL says that his solution to the ZPN WCS problem in IRAF is feasible and
he is still working on it. At ADASS he had a chat with Frank Valdez
who confirmed that what he was proposing was ok - ongoing <<<<
MJI has prodded various AstroGrid bods regarding Rice compression. He also
drew attention to a good paper on this by Chris Sabbey (1998 PASP,
110, 1067).
ALL have recovered their precious data from the tar file from the failed
RAID array on apm3, so this can now be deleted.
STH has invited Simon Dye to Cambridge next Tuesday. Items for the agenda
are 1) the FIRES comparison 2) pipeline development update 3) MSB
design 4) commissioning plan
STH asked Paul Hirst about spectrophotometry in the NIR who suggested
asking Sandy Leggett - ongoing <<<<
WJS has forwarded our comments on the SDT document to Martin Folger
WJS has not got hold of a copy of the latest SDT document - ongoing <<<<
DWE pointed out that in version 0.9 the document number is incorrect
and that it should be VIS-SPE-ATC-20000-0011.
STH found out from Paul Hirst that you can upload pointing lists directly
into the OT of WFCAM. You do not have to use the SDT to do this
WJS has not asked if the positions of the two guide stars could be
combined to produce a single x,y correction for VISTA - ongoing <<<<
MJI has input the maths required for Section 2 of the DRLD
STH has not yet generated modified versions of JRL's diagrams.
At the same time he needs to review the content - ongoing <<<<
JRL understands what needs to go into Section 5 of the DRLD.
MJI found out that the version dated 22 April is the most up-to-date
version. This will need updating prior to FDR to be consistent with
the development plan in the DRLD document.
ALL have read through the DRLD document - see item 5.
ALL provided comments to STH on ETC document. STH still wanted to know if
details regarding scheduling should go in it (see later item). He also
said that he had another ETC example (MUSE) which had a lot of detail
in it. It was felt that detail regarding expected performance etc.
need not go in yet since this was an ETC specification document.
EGS informed all on the location of the revamped INT WFC web pages. DWE
had sent in some comments. These new pages should now be released. <<<<
PSB said that the specification for a Linux version of an ESO workstation
was straighforward and just required a DVD drive to load up the
software. Having such a workstation would be very useful to help
with the DID and in developing the ETC. MJI said that he would raise
this issue with JMS. <<<<
2. Comments on WFAU minutes
DWE noticed a comment in the minutes of 29/10/04 asking whether the UK
VISTA URD had been released or not, since it did not have a full complement
of digital signatures. The view held at Cambridge was that the document
has not been officially released until it is signed off. MJI said that
he would inquire further at the VDMT meeting. <<<<
3. JAC telecons and WFCAM commissioning
JRL reported on the last JAC telecon held on 20th October. WFCAM is on the
telescope, but the weather is poor. At the moment the tip-tilt mechanism has
not been activated.
The current schedule is 15/16 November WFCAM will be back on after adjusting
the shims. On 29 November the camera will start to be warmed up and then
removed from the telescope on 6 December. WFCAM will return on 28 February
for the final part of the commissioning ~6 March. It will then remain on
until 20 June. The following WFCAM run will be 15 August until the end of
2005.
Simon Dye will be going out to Hawaii with JRL for the final part of the
November commissioning.
JRL noted that we had agreed on a header keyword to show the tracking
status of the telescope and that the current value of RADECSYS is hardwired
to FK5. This arose in relation to a question regarding input coordinates
in B1950. CASU suggested adopting the (IAU standard) ICRS as a general
solution to this.
Andy Adamson confirmed that no more MSBs had been constructed at that time.
STH pointed out that he had volunteered to generate some trial GCS MSBs
after consultation with NCH.
Look-up tables for the non-linearity effect will be available, but not on a
per channel basis. This may be a problem since each channel has its own
r/o electronics and ADC.
A tape of test data has now arrived in Cambridge (it turned out to be a
DAT of pre-commissioning data from ~July).
The J sky brightness will be used to assess the sky brightness observing
conditions parameter within an MSB. J sky brightness will be measured from
the hourly standard fields and can also be approximately estimated from
observations in other passbands.
Some sky data is available for JRL to test. There is some cross-talk, but
possibly very little fringing (TBC when the tape of data arrives here).
At the next telecon JRL will ask for a dome flat sequence in order to test
linearity. This would be a good use of time if the weather is still poor. <<<<
The next JAC telecon will be on Thursday (4 Nov).
4. ADASS report
JRL reported on his and PSB's recent trip to ADASS in Pasadena. This was a
very productive meeting due to the many conversations had with ESO and
IRAF personnel.
Talks with Michele Peron confirmed that the proposed FDR deliverables were
what was required and helped sort out several issues regarding various
parts of the DRLD document. Enfin! JRL now understands what needs to go
in Section 5.
There was a small amount of feedback on JRL's poster, but unfortunately
all posters were only displayed for one day due to limited space. There
were also coordination problems in that related posters were displayed in
different sessions and did not correspond to the schedule for subjects of
talks. NAW said that his poster was displayed the day before his talk, so
when he came to advertise the poster it had already been taken down.
Talks with Carlo Izzo (GASGANO) gave very good value and provided a lot of
advice about the use of CPL. For example, designing around CPL Version 1
and later upgrading to CPL Version 2 would be acceptable. PSB and JRL
also arranged for someone from ESO with CPL experience to visit in early
December to talk further about CPL issues.
5. ESO docs for FDR - in particular ETC & DRLD
ETC: It was thought that the overall structure of the document was
fine and that all the necessary sections were there. STH said that JMS and
JPE had been sent the latest version of the ETC document. It was also
reported that JMI has provided an html mock-up of the ETC interface.
There was some discussion about whether observing efficiency should be
calculated by the ETC or should it be part of the SDT. Even though there
are now only a limited number of likely observing modes (it being deemed
perverse to want to change a filter within a tile), it was felt that this
should still be calculated within the ETC since the overheads are still an
important factor and depend on the exposure time and pattern. STH said
that he would need some more information on overheads. WJS volunteered
to provide STH with the latest overhead figures (eg. time to change
filter etc.) <<<<
Some issues regarding the level of detail, for example, the pseudo maths
code, that needed to go into this document were still unclear. STH will
raise this issue at the VDMT meeting on Friday. <<<<
It was felt that the open-ended complexity of the input spectra should
be reduced and that this part of the ETC should be kept simple. This would
need to be explained in the scope of the ETC document.
RIX leftovers: One of the main things left to do is for PSB to redo the
templates section in the Calibration Plan following the simplification of
the template structure recently written up by Steven Beard <<<<
The cascade diagrams also need reviewing. STH was volunteered to do this. <<<<
PSB said that Michelle Peron had clarified an issue regarding which version
of 1618 was applicable to which documents needed for the FDR. She said that
the existing three documents could follow Version 1 of 1618, while the new
documents (DRLD, ETC) should follow Version 2.
He added that all documents need to be ready by 15 November when there will
be an overall review which will include people external to CASU. PSB said
that he would work out what else needs reviewing in the short term. <<<<
DRLD: PSB reported that MJI and JRL's maths bits have been incorporated. He
then listed a number of actions:
MJI should proof-read Section 2 <<<<
PSB to add the photometric calibration equations (~1 page) from the
Calibration Plan document. <<<<
STH to think about the diagrams needed for Section 3 (Functional
Description) and see PSB and JRL about this. <<<<
JRL to write Section 5 (DRL Data Structures) since he is less confused
about it than PSB. <<<<
PSB to write a skeleton for Section 7 (Data Reduction CPL Plugins) - he
will suck the information from the Data Reduction Specification document. <<<<
For Section 8 (Validation,...) it was agreed that all that needed to be done
was state that simulated data would be provided. There was a bit of a
discussion as to whether we should use real data (eg. WFCAM) packaged in a
suitable way rather than simulations. It was generally agreed that
simulations would be a more sensible option since the known answers can
then be tracked through the various processing steps.
The structure of Section 9 (Development Plan) seemed fine but needs keeping
in step with the revised schedule.
When discussing Section 10 (QC1 Parameters), PSB asked how we calculate
the various quality control parameters. MJI said that he would write the
maths for inclusion into Section 2. <<<<
JRL was volunteered to write Section 11 (Data-Processing Table). <<<<
MJI said that he would raise the issue of Gavin Dalton's inclusion in the
FDR at the VDMT meeting. <<<<
6. Report for VDMT meeting
STH said that he wanted the monthly reports in pronto ie. straight after
this meeting as the report is due in on Thursday. <<<<
STH added that in future a simpler Excel summary spreadsheet might be
adopted to show the progress of the work packages. JMS was keen to get
this trialled and adopted by 2005.
7. Grant application news
MJI reported that the grant bid is just about on target to be in by
15th November. The money from this grant covers the period 2005-2010.
The current e-science-II money cover roughly 1/2 of CASU for the period
October 2004 - September 2007. Overall there are 10 named indivuals
within CASU who will require partial or full support over this period
if all the planned activities are to be delivered.
There was then some discussion about how much goes into the grant bid to
cover the operational running costs of processing the data from successful
VST bids. At the moment, this has not been specified. RGM and NAW were
asked to provide a half page for inclusion into the grant bid to cover
this and other possible future survey-style missions. <<<<
8. APM building news
PSB said that he was worried about the possibility of damage being done to
the network cable during the building work. This would only affect the Hoyle
building! - so clearly no problem then.
The scaffolding has gone up and to our knowledge there have been no further
delays. The next meeting of the liaison committee will be in about 2 weeks
time.
9. AOB
The written report about CASU's activities has been handed in and the
presentation to the staff meeting will be a week today.
So far 21 people have signed up for the CASU Christmas party. There are
still a few places left and MJI will welcome getting the deposits off
folk, as Jeannette went on a shopping spree with his credit card.
JRL said that the data on the cass38 discs has been mirrored and they will
be reallocated shortly.
Continuing Actions
------------------
MJI continue with comparing FIRES project reduced data by testing a CASU
seeing-weighted stacking procedure
STH continue investigating and generating MSBs
JRL finish solving ZPN WCS problem in IRAF
STH investigate what spectrophotometry is available in the NIR to nail
the narrowband filter calibration issue (ask Sandy Leggett)
WJS provide an up-to-date version of the VISTA SDT document
WJS ask if the positions of the two guide stars could be combined to
produce a single x,y correction for VISTA
STH review and provide diagrams for Section 3 of DRLD document
New Actions
-----------
EGS release revamped INT WFC web pages
MJI ask JMS about DVDs for ESO workstation
MJI clarify the status of the VISTA URD at the VDMT meeting
JRL ask at the next JAC telecon for a dome flat sequence in order to test
linearity
WJS provide STH with VISTA overhead timings
STH ask at the VDMT meeting about the level of detail needed for the
pseudo maths code
PSB redo the templates section in the Calibration Plan following the
simplification of the template structure
STH review the cascade diagrams
PSB work out what else needs reviewing in the short term
MJI proof-read Section 2 of DRLD
PSB add the photometric calibration equations from the Calibration Plan
document to the DRLD
STH think about the diagrams needed for Section 3 of DRLD and see PSB
about this
JRL write Section 5 of DRLD
PSB write a skeleton for Section 7 (use DRS document)
MJI write maths section for calculating the various quality control
parameters (Section 2 of DRLD)
JRL write Section 11 of DRLD
MJI raise the issue of Gavin Dalton's inclusion in the FDR at the VDMT
meeting
ALL send in monthly reports to STH pronto
RGM provide half page section for grant bid covering possible future
NAW survey-style missions
