Background Information
Introduction
Immediately following the LACSC Regional Assembly from 23-25 July 2014 in Bogota, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services (DS), in cooperation with the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interiors (IASPEI) and the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN), is organizing a workshop focused on the management of metadata and time series data from seismological networks. The goal is to enable open data sharing and exchange of ideas between networks in the focus area as well as with the broader global seismological community. Financial support for the workshop is provided by the National Science Foundation through the SAGE grant to IRIS. (NSF Grant number EAR-1261681).
Scope
The objective of the workshop is to assist operators of seismic networks in the generation of time series and metadata that describes their seismic stations. We shall provide training in a variety of areas including; seismic station instrumentation, methods of transmitting real time data, development of station metadata, how to access data from the FDSN data center operated by IRIS, how network data are multi-use, and a new initiative related to monitoring the quality of seismological data. A primary goal of the workshop is related to the generation of the metadata needed to describe their networks using the Portable Data Collection Center (PDCC) application. We expect participants to come away from the workshop with all the necessary knowledge to set up and maintain their own database and to link their network to the growing global network for data access.
A tutorial on ObsPy, a Python based toolkit for seismological observatories, will be presented. ObsPy is an open-source project dedicated to providing a Python framework for processing seismological data. It provides parsers for common file formats, clients to access data centers and seismological signal processing routines which allow the manipulation of seismological time series. The workshop will also provide an introduction and training to the workshop participants on the SeisComp3 seismological network management system.
See the agenda for more details on the full scope of the DS workshop.
Network Reports
Network representatives MUST provide a summary of their seismic network and present an Oral Report at the workshop. Network reports will be due at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the workshop. Network reports must be concise, limited to no more than 10 slides and contain at a minimum the following:
- A map of the current network
- A short description of the instrumentation (type of digitizer, seismometer, and seismic network analysis system used)
- The primary product of your seismic network, such as an earthquake catalog
- Plans for your network in the next several years (3-5)
Additional information can be provided as long as your presentation is no longer than 10 slides and take no longer than 10 minutes to present.
Participation
Due to the size constraints of our facilities, our class size will be limited to 36 persons. Applicants from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America will receive priority, as this is the focus area for this workshop.
Participants will be asked to share a hotel room with one other participant. Upgrades to a single room are possible, but participants will be responsible for the cost difference. (Approximately $76 USD/night plus tax)
Letters of Invitation will be provided by IRIS Data Services (DS), if needed.
Visas and entry requirements will need to be arranged by the participant.
The DS workshop will be followed by an Advanced Studies Institute. The ASI workshop will support fewer participants and applicants will be accepted in a separate process. The ASI workshop will take place on 2014 August 1-2 at the same venue as the DS workshop. Applicants to the DS workshop may wish to consider also applying to the ASI workshop and make their travel plans accordingly.
Download the Contact Sheet of all Workshop Participants
Financial Support
There will be no registration fee.
Participants to the workshop who have been approved for travel support by IRIS will receive a travel allowance of up to $750 to offset their airfare. IRIS Data Services will arrange and pay for hotel accommodations. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by IRIS. IRIS will also provide $25 per day for the evening meal and incidental costs such as visas, transportation to and from the airport, etc.
In order to be reimbursed, you must submit the following on or after the first day of the Workshop:
- Completed travel reimbursement form
- Copy of your airline receipt/itinerary (including the name of the airline, traveler, flight numbers, travel dates, itinerary, and fare information.)
- Justification for Use of Foreign-Flag Air Carrier (if applicable)
Because IRIS funding for this workshop is provided under a cooperative agreement from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the following restrictions apply:
Economy Airfare
Airfare costs in excess of the standard economy airfare are unallowable except when:
- a higher cost service is the only service offered between two points;
- economy fare would result in additional costs that would offset the transportation savings; or
- a medical need or disability requires accommodation.
Use of U.S.-Flag Air Carriers
In accordance with the Fly America Act (49 USC 40118), any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other than the U.S. of persons or property, the expense of which will be assisted by federal funding, must be performed by or under a code-sharing arrangement with a U.S.-flag air carrier if service provided by such a carrier is available. Tickets (or documentation for electronic tickets) must identify the U.S. flag air carrier’s designator code and flight number.
Use of Foreign-Flag Air Carriers
There are certain circumstances under which use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible. The guidance regarding travel between points outside the United States is outlined below:
Use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if:
(a) travel by a foreign-flag air carrier would eliminate two or more aircraft changes en route;
(b) travel by a U.S.-flag air carrier would require a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point;
(c) the travel is not part of the trip to or from the U.S., and use of a U.S.-flag air carrier would extend the time in a travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier;
(d) (Short Distance Travel) the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by a foreign-flag air carrier is three hours or less and service by a U.S.-flag air carrier would double the travel time.
See the National Science Foundation (NSF)‘s Terms and Conditions, Article 10, for additional details regarding the use of non U.S.-flag air carriers
Location Details
Hotel
The NH Bogotá 93 Hotel, Bogotá
Technical Requirements
Participants MUST be able to bring their own laptops to the workshop. Laptops are REQUIRED to meet one of the specifics listed below:
Machine and OS requirements
- Intel-based CPU Dual core processor
- 2GB RAM, recommended 4GB
- 100 GB of disk space
- A spare USB port
- Operating System ( 1 of the following)
- MAC OS 10.5 or later
- Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
- Linux 2.6.32 kernel or later
- Virtual Box for Seiscomp 3 (Virtual Box Image will be prepared)
- Ubuntu 12.04 or 14.04 64 bit for Seiscomp 3
Java Requirements
- Java 1.6.0 or later
Sponsors
Data Services (DS) , International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN) , International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI) and National Science Foundation (NSF) .
Important Dates and Venue
Workshop will be held in Bogotá, Colombia.