International  Virtual  Observatory  Alliance   Statement & Roadmap 2002-2005

• Mission and Roadmap Statement
• IVOA Mission and Roadmap 2002-2005

A Mission and Roadmap Statement
2002-2005

Peter Quinn, Bob Hanisch and Andy Lawrence
On the behalf of the ASTROGRID, AVO and NVO Projects
June 10 2002

In the past twelve months, three major international projects have been funded to develop and realize the visionof using astronomical data repositories as virtual observatories. The totalinvestment of funds in these projects is more than $20 million (US) over thenext three-five years. The scope of these efforts is not limited to nationalboundaries but rather extends over the range of space and ground facilities utilized by the international astronomical community. Each project seeks to empower astronomers as they face the challenges of doing data-intensive scientific research in the 21^st century; challenges that are also tobe met by our colleagues in many areas of the physical sciences. Each project also wishes to tap into the underutilized scientific potential of existing andfuture astronomical data repositories. The number of VO projects continues toincrease as more and more communities of astronomers realize the challenge andopportunity before them. Each project shares common needs and seeks access to common ground. There is, therefore, a need to define this common ground andfind ways of meeting the needs as an international astronomical community seeking to realize a VO with global capabilities.

If the international virtual observatory (IVO) is to become a reality we need to define its mission and the steps necessary to achieve it as a coordinated international effort. Each of the existing national and international efforts will have its own particular set of science drivers, technology interests and metrics for success. While this diversity is beneficial to the success of an IVO, there are also elements of the international effort that must be common and agreed upon if the IVO is to become an operational reality. Most of these common elements have to do with standards for data and interfaces. Other common or shared elements may be in the form of software packages, source code libraries, and development tools. Some others have to do with issues of policy, funding and securing international support at governmental levels. We have already agreed that interoperability standards of various kinds have to come early on the road to the IVO. We also believe that early demonstrations of new capabilities at various levels ofcomplexity are essential if the VO effort is to gain credibility in the broader astronomical community. And we must enable the open exchange of information and share experiences among the various VO projects. We therefore need to create a publicly visible roadmap forthe IVO. Some of the milestones on this map have already been achieved and others must be met in the very near term.

We need a mechanism to facilitate international coordination and to achieve the vision laid out in this roadmap. We propose the formation of an International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) as a mechanism to gather other international programs into a coordinated effort. The alliance will consist of representatives from all funded international VO projects who meet on a regular basis to refine the roadmap and reach consensus on choices for the 'common ground' issues without which the IVO will not function.

The ASTROGRID, AVO and NVO projects take the opportunity of the Munich VO meeting to formally announce the IVOA and would like to extend an invitation to all VO projects to join this alliance for the pursuit of an international virtual observatory and the expansion of astronomical research capabilities in the 21^stcentury.

IVOA Mission and Roadmap
2002-2005

DRAFT
10 June 2002

Mission: To facilitate the international coordination and collaboration necessary for the development and deployment of the tools, systems and organizational structures necessary to enable the international utilization of astronomical archives as an integratedand interoperating virtual observatory.

Roadmap: