[an error occurred while processing this directive]

IUCAF 4th School on Spectrum Management for Radio Astronomy

Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile

7-13 April 2014

Co-sponsored by:

IUCAF
ALMA

CORF
CRAF
RAFCAP
RadioNet3
National Science Foundation


 

Presentations archive.

** Official photograph at the school

** Registration is now open. Deadline 15 March 2014. **
** Late registrations will be accepted until the start of the school!! **

** Details of transport and Hotel bookings for the ALMA visit are now open.**
** Deadline for hotel block booking 27 February 2014 **

** Hotel block bookings now open.**
** Please book asap as hotels in the area are filling fast **
N.B. Please note additional arrangements (14-Feb-2014)

** Pre-registration has now closed. Please contact the organisers for any issues.

Rationale

The 4th IUCAF School on Spectrum Management offers a comprehensive view of both technical and regulatory issues related to radio astronomers' use of the spectrum. Spectrum management is a task of rapidly growing importance, for radio astronomy as well as for other radio services; however, it is not part of any academic curriculum; radio astronomers have to learn it by doing it. The IUCAF School in Spectrum Management will be an opportunity to profit from the experience of colleagues.

The expected audience would be members of the radio astronomy and related radio engineering community, who are becoming active in this area at the local, national or international level, and regulators whose task is to protect passive services and science services.These skills have critical application to science, commerce and government.

Purpose

The School will train the next generation of Scientists, Engineers and Administrators in the skills enabling discoveries via observations using the radio spectrum.

Over 80 years have passed since K. G. Jansky first detected radio emission from the Galaxy, while searching for the origin of the weak static that was causing interference to communications. Since then, radio astronomy has revolutionized our view of the Universe through the discovery of quasars, pulsars, the Cosmic Microwave Background, surveys of our Galaxy in the 21-cm hydrogen line, molecular lines, and many other phenomena. The radio window was the first non-optical window in the electromagnetic spectrum explored by astronomers, and radio techniques continue to be a prime tool in the exploration of the Universe. At the same time, radio astronomy retains close ties to the world of radio communications, adopting some of its leading technologies, and sometimes giving rise to technologies of its own adopted by radio engineers for commercial applications.

During the 20th century, radio astronomers enjoyed relatively easy and interference free access to large portions of the spectrum, by locating telescopes far from potential sources of man-made noise. A small number of specialists took care of regulatory issues that arose in national and international fora that rarely required attention from the broader astronomy community. This state of affairs has been changing rapidly in the 21st century, as demands on the spectrum increase due to huge increases in the demand and availability of wireless applications (mobile phones, Wireless LANs, and many others), communication satellites and marketing of new technologies, such as ultra-wide band systems, power line telecommunication systems, cognitive radio systems and dynamic spectrum access (DSA). The development and health of radio astronomy depend critically on astronomers' continued access to the radio spectrum, and this in turn demands that astronomers and particularly radio observatories pay closer attention to the technical and regulatory issues that arise in relation to managing the radio spectrum, particularly as they relate to radio astronomy.

Spectrum management is critical for the future of radio astronomy. It is also interesting and even challenging, as it requires a combination of scientific motivation, technical background, legal knowledge and diplomatic skills. These skills are normally not taught as part of science curricula.

The IUCAF Spectrum Management School provides an introduction to a unique combination of technology, science and international diplomacy by experts in this field. At this school, special emphasis will be given to millimeter-wave technologies and spectrum issues.

Due to limited capacity at the Joint ALMA Observatory in Santiago, participation in the IUCAF school will be limited to 50 persons. Preference will be given to younger radio astronomers and engineers, who are or expect to be involved in spectrum management activities.

Topics

Topics to be Discussed will include:

Radio Astronomy Techniques and Observations
Earth Remote Sensing & Space RA Observations
Spectrum: Frequency Allocation, Bands and Uses
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other Regulatory Agencies
  * Recommendations, Reports and Notification
Radio Science & Technology
  * Antennas, Propagation, Receivers, Backends
Interference to Radio Astronomy
  * Interference to RA and mitigation techniques
International, National and Regional Regulatory Structure
Coordination with other Radio Services
RFI from New Technologies and Unlicensed Devices
New Frontiers in Spectrum Management
  * The submm/Terahertz regime, Radio Quiet Zones and SKA
Units and working with the Numbers

For the latest details see the draft finalprogram.

Program and Speakers

The final program is available, and it includes the speakers for all lectures.

School Location and Venue

Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO),
Av. Alonso de Cordova 3107,
Vitacura Santiago, Chile

Details of transport to JAO are available.

Registration

Participation at the workshop may be limited to ~50 people due to the size of the venue.

All interested in participating were encouraged to pre-register as soon as possible via the web pre-registration form.
Pre-registration is now closed. For any issues participants should contact the organisers directly.

Participants should register directly via the web registration form.

Visa Requirements

Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay need only their national identity cards to enter Chile. For other nationals of other countries, passports are obligatory. Citizens of Canada, the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries need passports only, no separate visa is necessary. The Chilean government collects a USD 132/56/132 "reciprocity" fee from arriving US/Australian/Canadian citizens in response to these governments imposing a similar fee on Chilean citizens applying for visas. The payment applies only to tourists arriving by air in Santiago and is valid for the life of the passport. Payment must be made in cash; exact change necessary.

A visa may be required for nationals of other countries, please check at your local Chilean consulate. Should a visa be needed, the LOC will assist participants as much as possible.

Important Dates

 
September 2013 1st announcement and pre-registrations begin.
Early February 2014 Final arrangements. 2nd announcement.
Early February 2014 Registration and hotel bookings open.
27th February 2014 Hotel block bookings for ALMA visit close.
7th March 2014 Hotel bookings close. Confirm attendance.
15th March 2014 Registration closes.
Sunday April 6, 2014 Arrival
Monday April 7, 2014 Morning registration; Start of school
April 7-11, 2014 SCHOOL
Wednesday April 9, 2014 Afternoon tours; School Dinner
April 11-13, 2014 Post-school excursion to ALMA site.

Visit to the ALMA telescope

An optional visit is planned for participants to the ALMA Telescope following the workshop, leaving Santiago de Chile on the afternoon of Friday, April 11 and returning to Santiago on Sunday, April 13. Please be advised that the visit requires flying to the town of Calama, Chile, and two nights of stay at the town of San Pedro de Atacama, implying an extra expense estimated to be about USD 1 000. The LOC will facilitate arrangements for the visit, but no financial support will be provided for this purpose to participants.

Due to the height of the ALMA Observatory (over 5,000 m above sea level) the visit is not advisable for persons, unless they are in good health. Participants should obtain a medical exam prior to the visit.

From the ALMA website:
The high site of ALMA (Chajnantor, 5,000m) has some significant safety constraints. Visitors are required to participate in a paramedic medical check-up (blood pressure, blood oxygen level) at the OSF (Operations Support Facility, 2,900m). Those who do not pass the test will not be allowed to continue to Chajnantor. Additionally, visitors must sign an acknowledgement and release form before being escorted to Chajnantor. Detailed information about high altitude health issues can be found at the ALMA High Altitude Fact Sheet.

Please indicate in the registration form if you plan to participate in the ALMA visit and the number of visitors in your party.

See details for transport and hotel arrangements for ALMA visit

Fees, payments; Conference Dinner

A registration fee of US $130 or its equivalent in CLP will be charged to participants. This fee includes all coffee breaks and lunches during the week of the school. (Alternatives for lunches outside the JAO are limited and time consuming.)

There is an official Dinner organised for Wednesday evening 9th April. It will be at the resturant Osadia, in the neighborhood and within walking distance from hotels.
This is a beautiful and high quality restaurant, with excellent service as well.
The cost will be US$70 per person, to be paid at registration. A bit expensive but well worth it.

Please indicate in your registration form if you will be attending the dinner and how many persons are in your group.

Financial assistance

Limited financial support may be available. Need for support should have been indicated on the pre-registration form. Otherwise, get in touch directly with the organisers.

Some support via the NSF has been obtained for US participants. Details and application forms are available from http://ral.berkeley.edu/spectrum-school-travel-grant/

Support is also available for EU participants from RadioNet3, to be administered via CRAF. Again, indicate in the pre-registration or let the organisers know.

IUCAF may alos offer limited support, especially for students.

Committees

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
M. Ohishi (Japan) -- Chair
A. Tzioumis (Australia)
D. DeBoer (USA)
H. van der Marel (The Netherlands)
T. Gergely (USA)
Y. Murata (Japan)
W. Baan (China, The Netherlands)
G. Langston (USA)

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
T. Gergely (USA) -- Chair
H.S. Liszt (USA
A. Tzioumis (Australia)
R. Ogasawara (Chile)

Acknowledgements

** RadioNet3 is made possible by the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), Contract No .283393.

External Links

Sections

Internal Links


 

 


For more information email to: Tasso Tzioumis