CASU 2016-2019

Observational astronomy in the UK has experienced a golden period over the last decade with the successful introduction and science exploitation of the pioneering large scale near-infrared (NIR) survey facilities of VISTA and WFCAM and the heavy involvement of UK astronomers in the VST optical survey facility. Results from these imaging surveys alone have enabled UK astronomers to carry out world-class science but they have also enabled successful exploitation of the detailed followup opportunities provided by membership of ESO.

Significant advances in astronomy continue to rely heavily on technology-enabled surveys of the sky from radio, through optical to X-ray wavelengths. The current era of deep NIR and optical surveys is the latest stage in this progression. It is also an area where the UK has had both a substantial lead and the requisite expertise in the Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit (CASU) to exploit this advance in wide field astronomy.

Members of CASU and its predecessor (the APM facility) have been at the forefront of survey astronomy, not only in pioneering techniques to optimally extract knowledge from survey data, but also in taking a proactive role in exploiting this information to produce world-leading research. This synergy and feedback between data processing and science delivery has been repeatedly demonstrated to be essential in ensuring delivery of the best possible science data products for exploitation by the widest community of UK and European astronomers. In the modern era CASU generated science data products from VISTA, WFCAM and the VST have supported world-class research programmes across almost every UK institute involved in astrophysics.

Wide-field digital imaging survey cameras, and highly multiplexed multi-fibre-fed spectrographs, produce enor- mous volumes of rich and complex data that demand sophisticated data analysis approaches beyond the resource capacity, knowledge and analysis skills of non-specialist astronomers. Delivery of a systematic end-to-end pipeline processing system, which includes optimal extraction, full calibration and quality control and legacy curation are a fundamental requirement of an fully integrated observing strategy and a crucial element for full and efficient science exploitation.

The CASU facility has been developed to allow the evolution of an optimal ergonomic solution to this avalanche of data, through access to Petabyte scale data storage systems and expert pipeline processing systems. Con- tinued development,maintenance and operation of the CASU processing and analysis pipelines will not only benefit the UK astronomy community now, but will also be relevant in developing the infrastructure to analyse the data from near-future facilities such as WEAVE and MOONS and also in the upcoming era of Extremely Large Telescopes and the radio Square Kilometer Array.

This grant proposal builds on the tremendous advances already made by CASU and requests funding for the period 2016-2019 for key activities:
- further development, maintenance, operation and user support of the science and analysis pipelines for the UK-led VISTA large scale surveys
- continuing development of the processing, analysis and data management system for the VLT Gaia-ESO very large spectroscopic survey
- design and development of the data management and analysis systems for the next generation of ESO/ING wide field massively multiplexed optical spectrographs;
- operational support, pipeline processing and further development of the science and analysis pipelines for the UK-led ESO VST public surveys
- support for operation of analysis and data releases of WFCAM surveys, and maintenance of the Data Archives for a number of high value collections (including ING, AAO, UKIRT).

The University of Cambridge has one of the most successful programmes for encouraging knowledge transfer and resulting societal impact between University departments and industry both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. CASU's approach to the search for impact opportunities has been guided by the mechanisms the University has in place to facilitate this.

CASU continues to be involved in the transfer of image analysis and data handling systems to the medical domain, and in particular image processing applied to oncology. This exchange has significant potential to both increase the effectiveness of clinical health care and enhance the quality of life of those with cancer, through improved outcomes through better targeted therapeutic treatments. The CASU software has been adapted for use in oncology (through earlier funding provided by the MRC and STFC's miniPIPSS programmes), resulting in the 'PathGrid' suite of algorithms (see e.g. Science special issue 'Dealing with Data' (vol 331, Feb 12, 2011)

In recent work CASU staff have been awarded a STFC Impact Acceleration Account award (administered through Cambridge Enterprise). This allowed an in depth Market Research analysis to be undertaken, which demonstrated that there is a significant and growing market for sophisticated image analysis software, such as provided by the 'PathGrid' suite, tailored to support hight throughput digital microscopy.

The partnership of CASU staff with the University of Cambridge's Department of Oncology and Cambridge Institute, Cancer Research UK, has continued, with an image analysis applications specialist, employed through an MRC grant, located at the IoA. Recent publications have exploited 'PathGrid' application to support the analysis of a large translational study.

Future beneficiaries include the Dept of Pathology at Addenbrooke's NHS hospital, where we are initiating validation pilots with the longer term aim to deploy the PathGrid processing system in the Addenbrooke's clinical setting of high throughput analysis of routine breast cancer pathology tests.

Outside of the medical area, CASU is active in supporting the public understanding of science activities undertaken more generally at the IoA and the university of Cambridge. CASU provides a range of high quality processed images of the sky which are used as high impact visual material in outreach activities such as the successful series of one-day conferences for schools, each day in turn targeting KS3, KS4, KS5 and secondary school teachers.

CASU have been involved in providing ideas to a new artist, who has created a unique set of glasswork inspired by the interface of astronomy and oncology. This work (see details at http://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/events/lens), LENS, funded through a Wellcome trust grant, has been shown in a public exhibition as part of the Cambridge Science week, and will in future be shown at a Cancer Research UK location in London.

Further details are contained within the Pathways to Impact document.