1. Emily CoBabe-Ammann (CU-LASP) Peter Fox (NCAR)
Crafting access to virtual observatories and their data: The challenge of the non-specialist user
Emily CoBabe-Ammann (CU-LASP)
Peter Fox (NCAR)
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

2. Virtual Observatories : Overview
VOs are distributed data systems. Multiple databases linked through a single portal -- A ‘one-stop shop’ for data on a given theme
Solves some level of the idiosyncrasies of individual databases VO
DB2
DB1
DB3
… … … …
DBn
DB1
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

3. Data has Lots of Audiences
More Strategic
Less Strategic
There are lots of different kinds of audiences interested in data. While we are talking about using data in the classroom today, several other audiences of are importance to Virtual observatories. In particular, on the more strategic end are groups that, while smaller, have great impact on the public’s and the government’s perception of the value of the data and its providers. In this category, I would place both science policy specialists and the media. Policy specialists and decision makers have a tremendous impact on budgets, but also feel, at least at some level, beholden to the tax payers. They want to see the impact that data has on people’s lives. They are also looking for information that will help them made an informed decision. In addition, the media plays a critical role, providing about 85% of the science content to the general public. A third group that is worth considering is the educated general public (the science-attentive public). They take science very seriously and can be a vocal advocate for a scinetific resource -- look at the Hubble scenario as an example.
From “Why EPO?”, a NASA internal
report on science education, 2005
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

4. The eGY Education Vision (ca. 2004)
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

5. VOs are Talking to Themselves
VOs can answer the questions that they are designed to answer.
And they have been designed to answer questions to a specific set of specialist scientist, not the general user.
Sometimes you have to know a lot
about the data you want in order to
retrieve it…
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

6. What is a Non-Specialist Use Case?
Someone should be able to query a virtual observatory without having specialist knowledge
Teacher accesses internet goes to An Educational Virtual Observatory and enters a search for “Aurora”.
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

7. What should the User Receive?
Teacher receives four groupings of search results:
1) Educational materials: and
2) Research, data and tools: via VSTO, VSPO and VITMO, knows to search for brightness, or green/red line emission
3) Did you know?: Aurora is a phenomena of the upper terrestrial atmosphere (ionosphere) also known as Northern Lights
4) Did you mean?: Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis, etc.
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

8. What does a VO need to make this happen?
A set of rules that define the users needs…Use Case!
This use case can be applicable across VOs…
But there are some other kinds of visionary leaps that have to be made…
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

9. Semantic mediation layer - SWEET, ..
Education, clearinghouses, other services, disciplines, etc.
VO3
VO1
VO2
Semantic mediation layer
VITMO (ITM)
VMO (magnetospheric - east)
VMO (magnetospheric - west)
VIRBO (radiation belt)
VHO (heliospheric)
Madrigal (“VISRO”, …)
VSPO (space-physics)
VGMO (geo-magnetic)
GAIA (auroral)
And lots more…
DBn
DB2
DB3
… … … …
DB1
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data

10. What will the Use Case mean?
Universal pathway by which VOs can make data accessible
Increased ability by educators, scientists and policy makers to connect from their backyard to a global picture
Dec. 15, 2006
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2006
Emily CoBabe-Ammann : Crafting Access to VOs and Their Data