Fusion, visualization and analysis framework for large, distributed data sets

In this paper a framework is presented for extracting information content from modem sky surveys, which have archived multiple terabytes of data in various wavelengths and at various resolutions. The proposed framework includes new technology that addresses the massive size and geographically distributed nature of these data sets. Also included is automated support for combining data sets from multiple archives and for relating sky catalogs to the image data. In addition, tools are provided for efficiently exploring images that are hundreds of gigabytes or even multiple terabytes in size. The proposed framework and "data agile" applications described here are essential in the modem era of astronomy because images of this size far exceed the current capabilities of conventional image analysis tools used in the astronomical community.