The organization and management of the Virtual Astronomical Observatory

TL;DR

The paper discusses the management and organizational strategies of the U.S. Virtual Astronomical Observatory to facilitate efficient integration of distributed multi-wavelength astronomical data for scientific research.

Contribution

It presents a detailed overview of management techniques and organizational structure used to operate a distributed astronomical data infrastructure.

Findings

Effective management methods improve coordination among member organizations.

Regular communication and planning enhance operational efficiency.

Contract-based collaborations support sustainable organization growth.

Abstract

The U.S. Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO; http://www.us-vao.org/) has been in operation since May 2010. Its goal is to enable new science through efficient integration of distributed multi-wavelength data. This paper describes the management and organization of the VAO, and emphasizes the techniques used to ensure efficiency in a distributed organization. Management methods include using an annual program plan as the basis for establishing contracts with member organizations, regular communication, and monitoring of processes.