Technology Development Center Response Form Joint CSTG/IERS Call For Participation International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astronometry Technology Development Center name: ---------------------------------- The Canadian VLBI Technology Development Center. NOTE: The Space Geodynamics Laboratory and its Canadian VLBI partners were established as a VLBI Technology Development Center under the auspices of the IERS and this document is a request for an continuation of that designation under the auspices of the new IVS. Parent/Funding Organization(s): ------------------------------ 1. Space Geodynamics Laboratory, CRESTech 2. Geodetic Survey Division, NRCan 3. Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, HIA/NRC 4. Canadian Space Agency Name and Title of Primary Contact(s): ------------------------------------ 1. Space Geodynamics Laboratory: ---------------------------- Scientific/Administrative Contact Prof. W.H. Cannon Director, SGL/CRESTech 4850 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario Canada, M3J - 3K1 Telephone: (416) 665-5459 FAX: (416) 665-1815 E-mail; wayne@sgl.crestech.ca Engineering/Technical Contact(s) SGL/CRESTech 4850 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario Canada, M3J - 3K1 Mr. Paul Newby Telephone: (416) 665-5442 FAX: (416) 665-1815 E-mail: paul@sgl.crestech.ca Mr. Georg Feil Telephone: (416) 665-5458 FAX: (416) 665-1815 E-mail: georg@sgl.crestech.ca Mr. Alexander (Sasha) Novikov Telephone: (416) 665-5441 FAX: (416) 665-1815 E-mail: georg@sgl.crestech.ca 2. Geodetic Survey of Canada: ------------------------- Scientific/Administrative Contact(s) Geodetic Survey of Canada Geomatics Canada NRCan 615 Booth Street Ottawa, Ontario Canada, Mr. Norman Beck Telephone: (613) 995-2923 FAX: (613) 995-3215 E-mail: beck@geod.nrcan.gc.ca Dr. Calvin Klatt Telephone: (613) 943-0019 FAX: (613) 995-3215 E-mail: klatt@geod.emr.ca Engineering/Technical Contact Dr. William Petrachenko Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory PO Box 248 Penticton BC Canada, V2A - 6K3 Telephone: (250) 490-4356 FAX: (250) 493-7767 E-mail: billp@cass.drao.nrc.ca 3. DRAO/HIA/NRC ------------ Scientific/Administrative Contact Dr. Peter Dewdney Deputy Director, Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory PO Box 248 Penticton BC Canada, V2A - 6K3 Telephone: (250) 490-4322 FAX: (250) 493-7767 E-mail: ped@drao.nrc.ca Engineering/Technical Contact Mr. Brent Carlson Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory PO Box 248 Penticton BC Canada, V2A - 6K3 Telephone: (250) 490-4358 FAX: (250) 493-7767 E-mail: bcarlson@drao.nrc.ca Describe your primary activities in VLBI Technology Development: --------------------------------------------------------------- SGL/CRESTech, GSD/NRCan, and DRAO/HIA have been functioning as an IERS Technical Development Center primarily concerned with the development of the ``S2'' VLBI System. The ``S2'' consists of the S2 VLBI Data Acquisition System (S2-DAS) [Appendix D], the S2 VLBI Data Record system (S2-RT) [Appendix C], the S2 VLBI Data Playback system (S2-PT) [Appendix C], and the S2 VLBI correlator system [Appendix E] together with a transportable VLBI station equipped with a 3.6 m antenna, the so-called Canadian Transportable VLBI Antenna (CTVA) [Appendix F]. At the present time there are between 55 and 60 S2-RT and S2-PT systems in use in a dozen countries. The ``frequency switched'' S2-DAS is presently undergoing field deployment and testing of the frequency switched capabilities of the S2-DAS and S2 correlator for geodetic applications by bandwidth synthesis (BWS) group delay measurements are underway. The six station S2 correlator, located at DRAO, is supported by the Canadian space agency for space VLBI observations with VSOP and has been operating in a ``production mode'' for more than a year. The CTVA system is intended to establish and maintain fundamental, (quasar referenced), fiducial geodetic control points at locations within the Canadian landmass in support of the Canadian Active Control System network (CACS). The Geodetic Survey Division is responsible for the deployment and operation of the CTVA system. Work has begun on the development of the new ``S3'' and ``S3-E'' VLBI system capable of operation at data rates of 1 Gb/sec (S3) and 2 Gb/sec (S3-E) for up to 2.5 hours unattended. Describe any planned facility upgrades: -------------------------------------- Present efforts are directed at establishing the operational basis for the S2 ``CGLBI'' system for geodesy and geodynamics. The S2 CGLBI system makes use of the phase coherent, frequency switched, S2 VLBI Data Acquisiiton System and correlator to measure wide bandwidth group delays over 900 MHz. Work has also commenced on the design of the 1 Gb/sec ``S3'' and 2 Gb/sec ``S3-E'' VLBI system, a successor to the ``S2'' which is intended for radio astrophysical (space VLBI) and geodetic applications in the future. Number of full-time equivalent personnel assigned to Technology Development --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Center functions: ---------------- The combined personnel complement of SGL/CRESTech, GSD/NRCan, and DRAO/HIA involved in VLBI Technology Development Center functions is approximately 12. Indicate which of the following IVS Technology Development Center functions you ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- will perform and explain briefly how you will perform them: ---------------------------------------------------------- The Space Geodynamics Laboratory (SGL), in collaboration with its other Canadian VLBI partners, will complete the deployment of the S2 Frequency Switched VLBI Data Acquisition System to be used in Canada for the measurement of precise group delays by BWS in support of geodesy and geodynamics. SGL will fabricate additional S2-DAS systems to be used as spares or for collaborative international VLBI activities. Like the S2 VLBI Data Recorder it is the intention of SGL to develop the software to include the operation of the S2 VLBI DAS inside PCFS. SGL will continue to offer on-line (s2support@sgl.crestech.ca) and off-line technical support to the large international community of S2 Systems users. SGL will continue to provide software upgrades, enhancements, and new bug fixes to the large international community of S2 users. SGL will assist the S2 user community by provision of up dated, on-line S2 system Users Manuals. SGL will continue with its development of the new 1 Gb/sec ``S3'' VLBI system and the 2 Gb/sec ``S3-E'' system. Work on the S3 development to date has resulted in the selection of the tape transport to be used as well as preliminairy signal channel design. The overall architecture of the S3 will resemble the S2 in that it will consist of an array of 8 tape transports, each recording at a user data rate of 128 Mb/sec, arranged in two sets of Tape Transport Array Module (TAMs) together with a Data Signal and Control Module (DSCM). The S3-E will posses a second set of TAMs, slaved to the first. Both systems will offer unattended recording times at full bandwidth (1-2 Gb/sec) of 2.5 hours. A list of personnel designated as IVS Associate Members through their --------------------------------------------------------------------- affiliation with SGL/CRESTech and the Canadian VLBI Technology Development -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Center. ------ Prof. W.H. Cannon Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University Director, SGL/CRESTech Mr. Paul Newby Project Scientist, SGL/CRESTech Mr. Georg Feil Project Scientist, SGL/CRESTech Mr. Alexander (Sasha) Novikov Project Scientist, SGL/CRESTech Dr. Joseph Popelar Project Scientist (Emeritus), SGL/CRESTech Dr. Peter Dewdney Deputy Director, DRAO Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics, NRC Mr. Brent Carlson DRAO Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics, NRC Mr. Norman Beck Geodetic Survey of Canada Dr. William Petrachenko Geodetic Survey of Canada Dr. Calvin Klatt Geodetic Survey of Canada Mr. Mario Berube Geodetic Survey of Canada Additional information ---------------------- There are now between 55 and 60 S2 VLBI Data Record and Playback systems at various radio astronomy sites in a dozen countries enigaged in a variety of radio astronomical research activities. All of these systems were fabricated under by the Space Geodynamics Laboratory (SGL) of CREStech on the campus of York University in Toronto. Sincerely Professor W.H. Cannon Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University and Director, SGL/CRESTech