VOEvent used for solar knowledge base

Hi everyone,

I'd like to highlight a new solar use case for the VOEvent schema. Lockheed Martin is building a heliophysics features and event knowledge base (http://www.lmsal.com/helio-informatics/hpkb/). The knowledgebase is built up as solar events are identified, described as VOEvent packets with the addition of <lmsal:*> tags, and submitted to the knowledgebase.

The VOEvent schema already imports the IVOA's STC schema - can additional schemas be imported as well so that VOEvent packets can include customized elements like the <lmsal:*> tags while still conforming to the VOEvent schema?

I've attached a sample XML file (describing a coronal loop) generated by the SolarSoft vobs/ontology module's struct4export and export_event procedures. You may notice a <Group> placed inside <WhereWhen> that describes the loop's placement on the Sun. The Lockheed group is amenable to moving such groups to <What>.

I've copied six of the HPKB scientists to this discussion, and I would be interested to hear the VOEvent group's thoughts.

Elizabeth

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Elizabeth Auden, MSSL
Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking RH5 6NT
Tel: +44 (0)1483 204 276
eSDO Technical Lead, AstroGrid Developer




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