IVOA Theory-Interest Group: Particle Simulations Workshop: Cambridge, UK: 27-28 Feb 2006

[Nicholas Walton]

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to participate in a two-day workshop on the
27th-28th February, 2006, at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge
University, aimed at discussing and proposing solutions to the main
issues regarding the successful integration of simulated data into the
Virtual Observatory.

Specifically, as discussed at the ESAC Oct 2005 Interoperability
meeting theory session, the focus of this workshop will be on the
requirements of data extracted from 'particle' (Nbody, SPH)
simulations.

The workshop will aim to address the following specific topics:

* proposing and determining a standard data format and file structure for
simulated data

* development of meta-data models for discovery and querying of published
data

* identifying the main requirements of simulated data on the other IVOA
working groups, especially with regard to data discovery, querying,
and retrieval, and the registration of selected data products and
services.

* identifying the type of services to be made available for the
analysis/visualisation of simulated data (e.g. virtual telescopes, online
semi-analytical galaxy formation)

>From the outcome of this workshop, we hope to enable the publication
of simulated data using a standard prototype data format, the success
of which can be discussed at the IVOA InterOperability meeting in
Victoria in May 2006
(http://www.ivoa.net/twiki/bin/view/IVOA/InterOpMay2006). We also aim
to be able to present a list of requirements of the IVOA working
groups, based on a selection of theory 'use-cases'.

Details of logistics and registration for the workshop can be found at
http://ag01.ast.cam.ac.uk:8080/twiki/bin/view/Community/TheoryMeetFeb06

We hope very much to see you in Cambridge in February 2006.

Yours, and best wishes for Xmas and the New Year,

Nic Walton, Laurie Shaw and Gerard Lemson.

========================================================================
Dr N. A. Walton
(AstroGrid Project Scientist	       http://www.astrogrid.org)
(Euro-VO VOTC Project Scientist	       http://www.euro-vo.org)
Institute of Astronomy          Tel:   +44 1223 337503
University of Cambridge         Fax:   +44 1223 337523
Madingley Road                  WWW:   http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~naw
Cambridge, CB3 0HA              email: naw at ast.cam.ac.uk
========================================================================