Speaker
Description
GaiaNIR will not only need advanced instrumentation, but also survey-driven infrastructures able to handle very large and complex data sets. The Javalambre wide-field surveys J-PLUS and J-PAS, led by CEFCA and carried out at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ), are natural precursors in this sense. They already deliver well-calibrated images, catalogues and value-added products over thousands of square degrees. By the time GaiaNIR becomes operational, J-PAS will be completed, providing optical spectrophotometry at R≈60 for several hundred million stars down to r≈22. Combined with Gaia astrometry and photometry, this dataset will significantly extend and complement the scientific reach of GaiaNIR, especially for studies of Galactic structure and the Local Group.
A central element is CEFCA’s UPAD data centre, a survey-oriented, scalable infrastructure that manages the full data flow: raw data ingestion, automatic reduction pipelines, quality control, archiving, public data releases and VO-compliant access. The experience gained with J-PLUS and J-PAS in operating a high-throughput survey facility, processing large data volumes and delivering science-ready catalogues can be transferred directly to GaiaNIR. This includes support for simulations, survey design and optimisation, data processing and cross-calibration between optical and near-IR bands, as well as strategies for target selection in crowded and dusty regions. Altogether, the Javalambre surveys and their data centre provide a powerful framework for GaiaNIR data management and for maximising its scientific impact on Galactic and Local Group astronomy.
