Space-Time Coverage in the VO Registry
Markus Demleitner

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.
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Taxonomy
TopicsOptical Systems and Laser Technology · Optical Wireless Communication Technologies
