Data Services Newsletter

Volume 12 : No 3 : Winter 2010

IRIS DMS Conducts its 5th Metadata Workshop in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Brazil Metadata Workshop icon

During the week of August 13-19, 2010 the IRIS DMS held a workshop that focused on the management of metadata and time series data. The goal was to enable open data sharing and exchange of ideas between networks in Central and South America.

The main objective of the workshop was related to the generation of the metadata needed to describe networks using the PDCC (Portable Data Collection Center) application. Lecturers presented topics such as modern data acquisition systems, quality assurance, digital filtering theory, installation and calibration of seismic stations and how modern seismological data is used to study diverse scientific problems as well as monitoring seismicity.

Both the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and the University of San Juan Argentina hosted the workshop. The NSF, IRIS, CERESIS, IUGG, and IASPEI were co-sponsors, which funded the workshop.

There was a total of 50 participants from 20 countries that included, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, Peru, Panama, Venezuela, the West Indies and the US.

Brazil Metadata Workshop Classroom

The participants were presented with the various topics from lecturers that included Dr. Pete Davis (UCSD), Prof. Erhard Weilandt (Univ. of Stuttgart), Dr. Joachim Wasserman (Univ. of Munich), Mr. Reinoud Sleeman (ORFEUS) and Prof. Emile Okal (Northwestern University). From IRIS, lectures were given by Dr. Tim Ahern, Mr. Rick Benson and Mr. Chad Trabant. Dr. Daniel Huaco gave an overview of CERESIS followed by Mr. Gerardo Suarez ‘s overview of the FDSN.

All participants gave short PowerPoint presentations of their represented countries networks. These presentations can be found at: http://www.iris.washington.edu/workshops/2010/metadata/NetworkReports/

Falls with rainbow

Social activities during the 7 day workshop included a Reception Dinner on Wednesday August 18th at the hotel which had a themed “Italian Night” where delicious Italian Dishes were served. On Tuesday, August 17th there was a field trip to the Foz do Iguaçu Waterfalls where both the Argentinean and Brazilian sides were visited.

The Metadata Workshop was a complete success due to the generous teamwork given by the participants and the very informative lectures.

In closing, the IRIS DMS would like to thank Dr. Marcelo Assumpcao for his great assistance in working through the many details concerning logistics for the workshop.

by Gale Cox and Tim Ahern (IRIS Data Management Center)

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