Space-Time Coverage in the VO Registry

TL;DR

The paper discusses the implementation and potential of space-time coverage metadata in the Virtual Observatory, emphasizing the importance of standardization and adoption for effective data discovery.

Contribution

It introduces the mechanism and design choices for space-time coverage in VODataService 1.2 and discusses ways to improve and utilize this metadata standard.

Findings

Current limitations in non-electromagnetic resource coverage

A scheme for querying resource coverage in RegTAP 1.2

Call for widespread adoption of STC metadata

Abstract

With VODataService 1.2, service providers in the Virtual Observatory (VO) have a reasonably straightforward way to declare where in space, time, and spectrum the data within a resource (i.e., service or data collection) lie. Here, we discuss the the mechanism and design choices, current limitations (e.g., regarding non-electromagnetic or solar system resources) as well as ways to overcome them. We also show how users and clients can already run queries against resource coverage using a scheme that is expected to become part of RegTAP 1.2 (or a separate standard). We conclude with an ardent plea to all resource creators to provide STC metadata -- only wide adoption will make this facility useful.