E-ALFA Organization

Draft Responsibility Assignment

• establishing the processes that will govern other activities
  • proposal guidelines and schedule
  • proposal review process and criteria
  • project readiness review
  • observing time allocation and schedule
  • progess review and criteria
• facilitating the formation and activities of survey groups/consortia, including but not limited to:
  • supporting ALFA web-based information dissemination
  • organizing consortia workshops
  • facilitating cross-consortia (X-ALFA) discussions
  • providing on-site educational opportunities
  • organizing X-ALFA outreach activities
• providing the hardware and software needed to acquire data, including but not limited to:
  • telescope control and data aquisition software, record keeping tools etc.
  • on-line monitoring displays, statistical tools, quick-look tools
  • beam characterization, calibration tools and information
  • RFI suppression/mitigation, radar blanking schemes, real-time RFI removal
  • standardized data formats, software for export to standard SDFITS
• providing the archive for the raw data
• undertaking the first phase of data processing, including but not limited to:
  • bandpass calibration and subtraction
  • astrometric registration and gridding tools
  • Level I (first pass) spectra, flat but "dirty" maps and data cubes
  • continuum catalog
  • Level I data archive
• verifying Level I data quality
• establishing the process for Level II data quality verification

• specifying the hardware and software needs and how they will be acquired
• specifying the optimal observing strategies
• undertaking the observations
• assisting NAIC in Level I data processing
• developing, and providing to NAIC, the necessary software for Level II data processing
• undertaking the second phase of data processing, including but not limited to:
  • fully continuum cleaned maps
  • deconvolved spectral line maps (when appropriate)
  • robust, gridded data cubes
  • calibrated spectra at nearest grid point
  • HI source catalog
  • data product access tools
• verifying Level II data quality
• providing Level II data products to NAIC (or designate institution)

• outline a mutually agreeable framework for the collaboration with a clearly delineated assignment of tasks, delivery schedule and evaluation criteria
• obtaining NSF support for the surveys for U.S. participants
• specifying the format of standardized data products
• archiving the Level II data products
• developing a portal to the NVO
• establishing mechanisms for graduate thesis work
• establishing educational opportunities for undergrads, grads, postdocs
• developing educational materials for K-12, undergrads, grads
• providing public information and outreach materials