Project tracking at the Submillimeter Array: from proposals to publication

Charles Katz; Glen Petitpas; Mark Gurwell; Alison Peck; David Wilner

doi:10.1117/12.789861

12 July 2008 Project tracking at the Submillimeter Array: from proposals to publication

Charles Katz, Glen Petitpas, Mark Gurwell, Alison Peck, David Wilner

Proceedings Volume 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II; 701616 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789861
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

We present a new suite of web-based software tools developed at the Submillimeter Array which allow the tracking of projects from the proposal stage all the way to successful completion of the observations. The web-based nature of these tools allows easy world-wide coordination and collaboration through all aspects of a science project, from proposal writing, time allocation, observing script preparation, scheduling, and finally observations. These tools are based on a project system data-flow which was developed after extensive discussion with proposing scientists, time allocation committee members, support astronomers, and engineers responsible for data quality. This system allows every stage of a project to be tracked, with proposals, time allocation comments, observing scripts, observation schedules, observing logs, data files, data quality reports, etc, all organized in a simple and convenient structure. In addition to making the data more readily accessible to the scientists, this system allows very accurate tracking of other telescope operational parameters, such as efficiency, share-holder's time fractions, and instrument performance, to name just a few. We will present the underlying design for the project system data-flow, and show the software used to ensure each project is tracked completely during its path from proposal to completed science observation.

Citation Download Citation

Charles Katz, Glen Petitpas, Mark Gurwell, Alison Peck, and David Wilner "Project tracking at the Submillimeter Array: from proposals to publication", Proc. SPIE 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II, 701616 (12 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789861

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