The Kilo-Degree Survey

TL;DR

The KiDS survey is a large-scale optical imaging project using the VST telescope, providing high-quality data products to the community through a collaborative, data-centric platform that enables efficient data sharing and calibration.

Contribution

This paper introduces the KiDS survey and its innovative data management system using Astro-WISE for collaborative calibration, sharing, and archiving of survey data.

Findings

Successful deployment of a 1500 square degree optical survey.

Implementation of a dynamic 'live archive' for data sharing.

Enhanced collaboration through Astro-WISE platform.

Abstract

The Kilo Degree Survey (KiDS) is a 1500 square degree optical imaging survey with the recently commissioned OmegaCAM wide-field imager on the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). A suite of data products will be delivered to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the community by the KiDS survey team. Spread over Europe, the KiDS team uses Astro-WISE to collaborate efficiently and pool hardware resources. In Astro-WISE the team shares, calibrates and archives all survey data. The data-centric architectural design realizes a dynamic 'live archive' in which new KiDS survey products of improved quality can be shared with the team and eventually the full astronomical community in a flexible and controllable manner.