themis/gbo cdr peer review 1 univ.of calgary, apr. 26-27, 2004 gbo deployment plans and status...

THEMIS/GBO CDR Peer Review 1 Univ.of Calgary, Apr. 26-27, 2004

GBO Deployment Plans and Status Canada Sites

Mike Greffen

THEMIS Canada Site Operations Manager

University of Calgary


Introduction

Talk overview

•THEMIS Canada Site Operations Manager’s responsibilities.

•Site selection process and site requirements.

•GBO deployment process.

•Site information organization, THEMIS-C website

•Current site status with emphasis on the status of sites to be deployed in 2004.


Site Operations Manager

The THEMIS Canada Site Operations Manager is responsible for:

• Locating 16 Canadian sites that meet the site requirements for a GBO.

•The deployment of 16 Canadian GBOs.

•Monitoring and maintaining the health of all active Canadian GBOs (and custodians).

•Retrieval of the ‘non-real time’ data (shipping of disks).


Site Map


Site Requirements

The minimum site requirements for a GBO are:

•A view over a 160° hemisphere for the all sky camera. This view should be as unobstructed as possible.

•A site clear of magnetic interference (as much as possible).

•Power, 120 V, 60Hz (single phase) at 10 Amp service.


Site Requirements

•A field operator who can periodically inspect and maintain the site and manually retrieve data (which consists of removing a hard drive from the site computer and shipping it to the University of Calgary).

•Relatively easy access to select THEMIS personnel.

If available we would also like to make use of:

•An existing internet connection.

•An existing building or similar infrastructure in which would could place the bulk of the GBO equipment.


Site Selection

Site Selection process:

•Start with recommended site.

•Use Web and pre-existing local contacts to make initial inquiries.

•As candidate sites appear, obtain photos and local testimonials of the site.

•Request panoramic photos of potential ASI field of view.

•Determine level of local magnetic interference as best as possible from photos and testimonials.


Site Selection

•If a suitable site can not be found remotely, travel to site region and engage in first hand reconnaissance.

•When site meets all requirements establish agreement between University of Calgary and site landlord for use as THEMIS GBO site.

•Arrange power connection and Telesat installation (if necessary).

•Finalize shipping and travel arrangements.


GBO Deployment

GBO Deployment process:

•Travel to site, with some or all of the GBO.

•Supervise any contracted work (such as power or Telesat installation).

•Deploy GBO (OSE, ASI, GMAG).

•Run GBO for several days. Run a series of ‘acceptance tests’ to confirm housekeeping and instrumental health.

•The GBO will then undergo a 30 day commissioning period supervised by the Data Specialist.


Selection and Deployment

A “typical” site selection and deployment timeline.

•Building block of overall deployment schedule.

•Bulk of site research can be completed “off season.”

Note that lines 7,9 and 11 will only occur at U Calgary for the first 4 deployments. After that they will be done at U Berkeley.


Site Information Organization

The information collected for each site will be published on the THEMIS-C website, including:

•Directions to the site, including airline, ground transportation and shipping information.

•Photos of the site and surrounding area.

•Names and contact information of regional contacts, including custodians.

•GBO installation details and site visit reports.

aurora.phys.ucalgary.ca


Current Site Status

From THEMIS-C website.



Current Site Status


From THEMIS-C website.


2004 Sites – Lac de Gras

Proposed location is BHP Billiton’s Ekati diamond mine.

They have offered use of:

• Existing communications infrastructure, including wireless internet on site and some bandwidth to outside world (there are some firewall issues).

•A building in which we can place the Observatory Support Electronics (OSE).


2004 Sites – Prince George

The leading candidate location is a University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) operated research forest.

•Isolated location about 60 km from Prince George with relatively easy access to power and attached custodian.


2004 Sites – Flin Flon

Site is currently to be moved to the Meteorological Services Canada (MSC) Upper Air Monitoring station at The Pas (150 km from Flin Flon). Has available infrastructure and attached custodian.


2004 Sites - Athabasca

The prototype GBO was deployed in Athabasca on April 16, 2004. This will become the final deployment at this site with only minor modifications.



The ASI Enclosure next to the 1 metre dome.



The backup site custodian.

themis/gbo cdr peer review 1 univ.of calgary, apr. 26-27, 2004 gbo deployment plans and status...

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