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TAC Report for Semester 2014AThe ProcessThe Observatory has completed the Semester 2014A proposal evaluation and time allocation process for the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)/High Sensitivity Array (HSA), and the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). A total of 450 new proposals were received for the 1 August 2013 submission deadline. In aggregate the proposals covered the broad spectrum of modern research in astronomy and astrophysics. A total of 1526 unique authors submitted proposals to the Observatory. Proposals were evaluated on the basis of scientific merit by eight Science Review Panels (SRPs). The proposals were also reviewed for technical feasibility by NRAO staff. Reviews were completed in September and then cross-reconciled by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) during a telecon on 28 October 2013 and a face-to-face meeting on 4-5 November 2013 at NRAO in Charlottesville, VA. The TAC consists of the chairs of the SRPs and was charged with recommending a science program for Semester 2014A to the NRAO Director. The recommended program was reviewed and approved on 18 November 2013. A disposition letter was sent to the principal investigator and co-investigators of each proposal on 25 November 2013. A TAC report (this document) containing information for proposers and observers, including statistics and telescope pressure plots, was released the same day. The approved science program will be posted soon. The Observatory welcomes community feedback on its process for proposal evaluation and time allocation. Please provide such feedback via the Proposal Review department of the Observatory's Helpdesk.Science ScoresLinear-rank science scores are assigned by the SRPs. The Observatory uses a scale from 0 to 10 to score proposals. A science score of 0 corresponds to a high-ranked proposal. A science score of 10 corrresponds to a low-ranked proposal. The quartile boundaries for the science scores are 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5.Scheduling PrioritiesThe Observatory's telescopes are predominantly dynamically scheduled. Taking into account the time available as a function of LST, the TAC assigns a scheduling priority to each session in each VLA and VLBA proposal. The assigned priority strongly depends on the linear-rank score of the proposal, the LSTs involved in the session, the length of the session, and the number of instances of the session. For the VLA and VLBA, possible scheduling priorities are: A = the observations will almost certainly be scheduledB = the observations will be scheduled on a best effort basis C = the observations will be scheduled as filler N*= the observations will not be scheduled because they were explicitly rejected by the TAC N = the observations will not be scheduled because they could not fit in the time available H = not assigned because the proposal is being held for for consideration at a future TAC meeting For the GBT, the scheduling priorities reflect a combination of the time available and the quartile of the SRP science score. The scheduling priority along with the LST pressure plots should be used to determine the likelihood that your project will be scheduled. For the GBT, possible scheduling priorities are: A = the observations will almost certainly be scheduled B = the observations will be scheduled on a best effort basis or were ranked in the 2nd quartile C = the observations will be scheduled as filler or were ranked in the 3rd quartile N*= the observations will not be scheduled because they were explicitly rejected by the TAC N = the observations will not be scheduled because they could not fit in the time available H = not assigned because the proposal is being held for for consideration at a future TAC meeting StatisticsThe tables below provide statistics by proposal counts and by proposal hours. Entries are binned according to time approved at scheduling priorities A or B, time approved at scheduling priority C only, and no time approved. To effectively schedule each NRAO telescope, it is necessary to approve more time than is actually available.
Pressure PlotsFor the GBT, due to the U.S. Federal Government FY2014 furlough, there will be an increased amount of carried-over time into Semester 2014A. This increases the LST pressures on the 14A proposals. In order to proceed with reviewing the 14A proposals in a timely fashion, we were forced to provide crude estimates of the amount of time that would carry over into Semester 2014A. A conservative approach was thus taken by the TAC in assigning time at a scheduling priority of A. As a result, highly-ranked projects received lower priority than they would have otherwise received. The GBT plots below show the total hours of allocated time for each individual LST hour. The horizontal black line represents the total number of hours available in Semester 2014A for each LST hour. Carryover includes all active projects allocated time that will continue into Semester 2014A and all maintenance time needed for Semester 2014A. The available time and maintenance times are assigned fractionally to each weather category based on historical weather averages for Green Bank (50% poor, 25% good, 25% excellent). The observation frequency of carried over active projects is used to assign the weather category for this part of the carryover. The GBT has three weather categories: poor, good and excellent. These categories reflect the type of weather needed to successfully carry out a typical observation for a given receiver band. Any observation below 8 GHz is assigned to the poor weather category. Observations between 8-18 GHz and 26-50 GHz are assigned to the good weather category. Observations between 18-26 GHz and above 65 GHz are assigned to the excellent weather category.
Observation PreparationFor the GBT, procedures for observation preparation are described within the Green Bank Science Web Site. For the VLBA, proposals approved for priority A time will be eligible for scheduling during up to two semesters and proposals approved for priority B or C time will be eligible for scheduling during only one semester, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the Comments from the TAC. Those allocated dynamic time should complete their key file preparation well before 1 February 2014, the start of semester 2014A. Procedures for key file preparation are described at VLBA. For the VLA, proposals approved for priority A, B or C time become ineligible when the associated configuration ends, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the Comments from the TAC. Those allocated dynamic time should begin their scheduling block preparation about two weeks before the planned start of the configuration. Configuration plans are available here. Any approved time may be divided into multiple scheduling blocks as appropriate, considering the scheduling priority, observing frequency, LST range suitable for the target(s), and LST pressure. For advice, please consult the Guide to Observing with the VLA. Procedures for observation preparation are described at VLA. Unless stated otherwise, any time allocated is only for the identified proposal, and no modification in the project should be made without obtaining permission from NRAO scheduling staff. To seek permission, submit a ticket to the Proposal Review department of the NRAO Helpdesk.
Copyright © 2009 Associated Universities, Inc. Modified on Monday, 25-Nov-2013 12:15:13 MST |
