The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) is composed of working groups that develop standards for astronomy data interoperability. The working groups focus on areas like applications, data access, data modeling, semantics, events, and a query language. Standards proposals go through a review process involving working groups, the IVOA Executive Committee, and a Technical Coordination Group before being approved as recommendations. The goal is to allow universal access and use of astronomical data worldwide through open standards.

1. The International Virtual
Observatory Alliance (IVOA)
Composition & Purpose
Juan de Dios Santander Vela (IAA-CSIC)

2. Overview
The International Virtual Observatory Alliance
Working Groups
Interest Groups
The IVOA Document Process
Anatomy of an IVOA standard

4. Data Curation & Technical Coordination
Radio (obsolete)
Preservation Group
inspired Steering &
Theory Interest Groups IVOA Executive
Coordination
Standing Committee on
OGF AstroRG
Standards & Processes
IVOA
Applications
VOTable
Working Groups VO Query
Data Access Layer
Language
Data Modelling VO Events
Grid & Web
Semantics
Services
Resource Registry

5. Working Groups

6. Applications
Concerned with the software tools used to access
VO data and services for doing Astronomy
Announcement & discussion of VO applications
Feedback on standards’ implementation
Identify missing/desirable technical capabilities
& and scientific usability for VO applications
Propose and develop standards specific to VO
Astronomy-user-Applications

7. Data Access Layer
Define and formulates VO standards for remote
data access
Simple Cone Search, Simple Image Access,
Simple Spectral Access…
Table Access Protocol
Data Access Layer Interface
More!

8. Data Modelling
Provides a framework for the description of
metadata attached to observed or simulated data
Logical relationships between these metadata,
based on how astronomers retrieve, process &
interpret astronomical data
Provides an architecture to handle them
Data Models are used across all VO standards

9. Grid & Web Services
Defines the use of Grid technologies and Web
Services within the VO context
Investigates, specifies, and implements required
standards in this area

10. Resource Registry
The IVOA Registry allows clients to be able to
locate, get details of, and make use of, any
resource located anywhere in any Virtual
Observatory
This WG defines the protocols and standards for
registry services interoperability

11. Semantics
Explore semantic technology with the aim of
producing new standards that aid VO interoperability
Concerned with meaning & interpretation of words,
sentences, or other language forms in astronomy
Activities
Maintenance of UCDs
IVOA Standard Vocabulary
Exploration of Ontologies

12. VO Events
Define the content and meaning of a standard
information packet for representing, transmitting,
archiving, and publishing a discovery of an
immediate event in the sky
Who, When, Where, What, How

13. VO Query Language
In charge of defining a universal Query Language
to be used by applications accessing distributed
data within the Virtual Observatory framework
VOQL ➡ ADQL, PQL

14. VOTable
Responsible for the definition of the VOTable, and
its evolution
Cross-links with the Apps, DAL, and DM working
groups
Now in maintenance mode

15. Steering & Coordination
Committees

16. Steering & Coordination
Committees
IVOA Executive
Technica Coordination Group
Standing Committee on Standards & Processes

17. IVOA Document Process
Proposing Body Document Status
IAU Standard
IAU VO
possible IAU endorsement
Working Group
Recommendation
inspired
IVOA IVOA-wide RFC, 4 weeks,
Executive with TCG 4-weeks review
significant
Proposed revision
Recommendation
An IVOA agreement within
Working Group working group
Working Draft
Notes

18. IVOA Documents

19. References & Links
IVOA Website
IVOA Documents Repository
IVOA Document Standards Management