1. JCMT Observation Management Project

2. JCMT Observation Management Project
Dynamic / Flexible / Reactive Telescope Scheduling

3. Overview Background of Flexible/Dynamic Observing
Implications for Operations
JCMT Developments
Conclusions

4. Flexible Scheduling: the norm rather than the exception
Classical observing judged too inefficient
Essential to gain access to rarely available wavelengths bands
Observatory black box: the average observer follows standard recipes
Remote access: physical presence of the observer unnecessary

5. Flexible Scheduling
Always schedule those observing projects at the telescope for which the current conditions are optimal
If the conditions drift outside certain boundaries, the observations are halted and a new project is selected

6. Flexible Scheduling
Pro’s:
It optimizes the scientific return in terms of quantity
Flexible scheduling is critical for the completion of projects which need rarely occurring conditions
Con:
P.I. not present, hence concerns over the quality
A flexibly scheduled observatory is project oriented rather than observer oriented

7. Classical Scheduling
Pro:
The P.I. controls the observations => strategy and the quality of the data will be optimal
(debatable but seldom contested by the observers)
Con:
Inefficient: conditions needed for the primary project may never arise
Classical scheduling is observer oriented rather than project oriented

8. Service Observing
The concept of flexible and classical scheduling is intimately connected with the concept of service and P.I. observing
However, these two concepts are in fact orthogonal

9. Factors which decide Observation Mode
Dependence upon variable conditions
Interactive level and length observations
Overall data rate and amount of processing
Social factors: receptiveness to serviced observing
Practical issues e.g. observatory staffing
Tradition

11. Basic Requirement
Flexibly scheduled observations should at minimum result in data equal in quality to those of an average experienced observer

12. JCMT Observation Management Project
Flexible Scheduling P I E L N O B S D E K
Q M
U A
E N
E G M E N T
Flexible Scheduling

13. JCMT Observation Management ProjectL N

14. JCMT Observation Management ProjectD E K

15. Scunoise

16. Sourceplot

17. Scusky

18. Obslog

19. JCMT Observation Management Project
Q M
U A
E N
E G M E N T

20. End-of-Night Report

21. Still to come
RMS Calculator: given source, time and weather conditions predicts expected rms.
Queue Assistant:
allows optimization of the queue
indicates expected beginning and ending observation times and elevations/airmasses
indicates expected rms
is reactive to the progress of the actual queue

22. The observation process
OBSDESK
PHASE I
Proposal writing
Proposal submission
Technical evaluation
PATT process
Observation Template & ODF files
Tentative scheduling
Observations
Pipeline processing
Observation log and initial assessment
Feedback with P.I.
If completed:
Hand-over of data
Sign-off on project
PROCEDURES
&
COMMUNICATION
JCMT-OT & SPIKE

23. BUG ZILLA Communications P.I. Scheduler Observer Queue Manager
Off-the-Shelf
Action-Request
System
Communications
P.I.
BUG
ZILLA
Scheduler
Observer
Procedures
Queue Manager

24. Overview: Process Layer
PHASE I
Proposal
Patt
Allocation
Long-term Scheduling
Overview: Process Layer
PHASE II
Science Program
Short-term Scheduling
Observations
Feedback
PHASE III
End-of-Project Report
Data Hand-over
Close of Project
Data Archiving

25. Overview: Products LayerB S D
PHASE I
Proposals
Tech. Assessments
Allocations
Long-term Schedule
PHASE I
Proposal
Patt
Allocation
Long-term Scheduling
Overview: Products Layer
PHASE II
Science Program
Short-term Scheduling
Observations
Feedback
PHASE II
Templates & ODFs
Plan for the night
Observation Log
Pipeline images AR CH I VE
PHASE III
Project Summary
Data
PHASE III
End-of-Project Report
Data Hand-over
Close of Project
Data Archiving

26. Overview: People Layer
PHASE I
Proposal
Patt
Allocation
Long-term Scheduling
PHASE I
P.I.
Scheduler
TAC & Referees
Staff
Overview: People Layer
PHASE II
Science Program
Short-term Scheduling
Observations
Feedback
PHASE II
Program Manager
Observer
P.I.
Scheduler
PHASE III
End-of-Project Report
Data Hand-over
Close of Project
Data Archiving
PHASE III
Program manager
P.I.
BUG
ZILLA

27. Short-term Scheduling (JCMT-OT) ODF-generator End-of-Project Report
PHASE I
Proposal
Patt
Allocation
Long-term Scheduling
PHASE I
(Phase-I tool)
Rms calc. & Sourceplot
Spike-LTS
Overview: Tools Layer
PHASE II
Science Program
Short-term Scheduling
Observations
Feedback
PHASE II
(JCMT-OT) ODF-generator
Obsdesk
Pipeline
Spike-STS
PHASE III
End-of-Project Report
Data Hand-over
Close of Project
Data Archiving
PHASE III
Project summary
SURF
Pipeline

28. Multi-purpose tools Multi-Moded I/O: Obslog Scunoise
Sourceplot
Scusky
RMS calculator
Queue Assistant
Pipeline
Multi-Moded I/O:
Local (disk) Local (Screen)
Remote (Web) Remote (Web)
Archive
Preparation phase
Observation phase
Evaluation phase