Developing a proof-of-concept for the renewal of the Fireballs in the Sky app

Jan. 7, 2025

With a complete audit in hand, ADACS is now working to create a proof of concept app for the Fireballs in the sky.

2024B · SoftwareDev · 2025A

A novel movie mode for impactful astronomy observations

Jan. 7, 2025

Enabling new science on the Huntsman Telescope by implementing a high frame rate "move mode" observing mode.

2024B · SoftwareDev · 2025A

A Web App for Transient Candidate Classification in the ASKAP VASTER Pipeline

Nov. 24, 2024

The VASTER pipeline detects short timescale variability in ASKAP data. A new web-based classifier allows users to view, filter, classify, and download observation and candidate data for efficient transient analysis.

2024A

Solar, Stellar and Space Physics with Machine Learning Workshop

July 15, 2024

A workshop on ML (Machine Learning) algorithms for Solar, Stellar and Space Physics, hosted at USQ in May, 2024.

Training · 2024A

Fireballs in the Sky app audit

July 7, 2024

A software audit for the Fireballs in the Sky app to understand what work is needed to update or remake the app so that it can again be published in the app stores.

SoftwareDev · 2024A · Audit

Improving the MWA Image-Plane Transients Classifier

July 7, 2024

A web app to allow astronomers to quickly and easily classify transient candidates, with links to external data sources, and the ability to download subsets of data for local exploration.

2024A

Integrated Marine Observing Systems data conversion tool

July 7, 2024

Converting a matlab script into a python library, so that IMOS researchers can provide their acoustic data in a more widely accessible data format.

2024A · SoftwareDev

Enhancing HORMONE: MPI Parallelisation and Workflow Modernisation

July 2, 2024

The HORMONE simulation code makes use of a novel self-gravity solver. ADACS implemented MPI parallelisation into the code, enabling it to scale across multiple compute nodes, facilitating larger and more detailed simulations.

2024A

ECR (Early Career Researcher) Python Workshop

Jan. 10, 2024

Most ECRs do not receive any formal training in critical software engineering skills. The ASA (Astronomical Society of Australia) collaborated with ADACS to run an intensive workshop to address this knowledge gap.

Modernising a Thermonuclear Burst Simulation Code for Neutron Star Constraints

July 21, 2023

BEANSp is a software tool developed to simulate Bayesian Estimation of Accreting Neutron Star parameters. The role of the ADACS support in this project was to analyse the code and suggest and implement improvements.

2023A

Improving the TESS Atlas Website and Catalogue-Automation

July 20, 2023

ADACS improved TESS-Atlas by optimising scalability, reducing website construction time, and automating workflows with a custom Job Controller for handling new exoplanet candidates efficiently.

2023A

Asynchronous Web Application for Large Sky Surveys Visualisation

July 13, 2023

ADACS developed a web-based viewer for the 4HS team to quickly visualise and evaluate survey data, generating HiPS data on demand and helping identify and fix data issues, improving survey quality.

2023A

Set it and Forget it: Automating and Accelerating ESO Data Download

July 13, 2023

ADACS developed the "eso-downloader" Python package to automate ESO telescope data downloads. It streamlines access, quality checks, and retrieval, improving efficiency for astronomers in large programmes like GECKOS and MAUVE.

2023A

Machine Learning Workshop

July 12, 2023

A four-part ML (machine learning) workshop consisting of a lecture on the history of ML and it's applications in astronomy research and three deep-dive sessions to apply ML techniques to astronomy data sets.

StarFit: Improvements to Build Workflow and Automated Documentation

July 2, 2023

ADACS collaborated again with the StarFit science team. Key achievements included adopting Meson and a multi-stage build approach, and integrating ReadTheDocs documentation into the workflow.

2023A

Automating Weather Modelling for Meteorite Recovery

June 21, 2023

ADACS automated weather modeling with Nextflow for the DFN (Desert Fireball Network) team, improving efficiency and enabling parallel processing of meteorite fall data.

2023A

Coding Best Practice in Scientific Computing

March 27, 2023

A three day workshop aimed at researchers without formal coding/software development training and designed to give people a taste of many different aspects of best practices in scientific computing.

Implementation of VLT/NACO Pipeline Optimisations

Jan. 17, 2023

ADACS significantly enhanced the NaCo pipeline by parallelising key functions within the VIP library, reducing execution times by a factor of six and enabling more efficient processing of direct imaging data from the ESO archive and beyond.

2022B

StarFit: New Features and Improved Accessibility for Scientists

Dec. 22, 2022

StarFit, a tool for matching stellar abundance data to nucleosynthesis, was outdated and required a comprehensive revamp. ADACS assited by making key upgrades to the website, creating a PyPI python package, and adding features to the tool.

2022B

NextFlow Training

Nov. 24, 2022

The NextFlow training provided comprehensive instruction on workflow orchestration, including running and developing NextFlow workflows, using containers (docker and singularity), configuring NextFlow with SLURM, and covering best practices.

Training · 2022B

HPC (High-Performance Computing) Training

Nov. 24, 2022

This course is aimed at researchers who are new to using HPC facilities and is intended to be an overview of HPC concepts.

2022B

Boosting Social Network Analysis Research with Supercomputers

Sept. 21, 2022

ADACS collaborated with researchers in Social Network Analysis to improve the performance of their simulation code. This allowed them to tackle research problems that were previously computationally intractable.

Enhancing QUOKKA: Performance Gains in GPU-Optimised RHD Code

Aug. 7, 2022

ADACS collaborated with the developers of QUOKKA, a radiation hydrodynamics code, to determine if the performance could be enhanced. Although the code was already highly optimised, performance gains were made by refactoring GPU kernels.

2022A

ASA Early Career Researcher (ECR) "How To" Series

Aug. 1, 2022

The ASA Early Career Researcher (ECR) Chapter Steering Committee organised a virtual "How To" series, answering some of the most pressing questions from our community.

Bringing the Cosmos to Your Screen: Developing Asynchronous Web Apps for Theoretical Astrophysical Data Products

July 13, 2022

ADACS developed a web app and API for SimSpin, allowing users to explore galaxy simulations and download FITS files, enhancing accessibility and supporting global collaboration in galaxy research.

2022A

Computing, Careers, and Dark Matter at HWSA 2022

July 8, 2022

ADACS developed four short courses for the 2022 HWSA (Harley Wood School for Astronomy) that focused on developing skills for computing and careers, while the dark matter theme was covered off by astronomy experts.

Achieving Scalability: Advances in PHANTOM’s Parallel Computing Capabilities

June 16, 2022

ADACS improved the performance of the PHANTOM SPH code by improving its MPI communication patterns and optimising memory reallocation. Additionally, these upgrades prepare the code for future optimisations.

2022A

Research Project Management

May 16, 2022

This training is designed to teach researchers project management skills that can make both their personal and collaborative projects more efficient.

2022A

Getting Parallel Bilby Production-Ready for LIGO’s Fourth Observing Run

Dec. 20, 2021

ADACS developers collaborated with the Parallel Bilby team to overhaul their code, improving its structure, establishing tests for reproducibility, and instilling good development practices. This work set the foundations for future improvements to th

2021B

Preliminary Work on PHANTOM Code: Setting Up Testing Framework and Performance Profiling

Dec. 18, 2021

PHANTOM is an SPH code used for astrophysical simulations. ADACS transitioned its test suite to GitHub Actions, allowing the researchers to develop more rapidly. Recommendations were made on how to improve the code's parallel performance.

2021B

Refining the SMART Survey Deployment: User Experience Improvements to Boost the Search for Pulsars

Nov. 13, 2021

ADACS developed a web-based database and interface for the SMART pulsar survey, enabling cone searches, candidate ranking, and editing. The upgrades led to new pulsar discoveries, with data to be made publicly accessible via Data Central.

2021B

ANITA Astroinformatics 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

Three days of talks, panel discussions and workshops focused on Green Computing (resource use minimisation through automation and optimisation).

Collaboration on Shared Codebases

Oct. 28, 2021

This workshop uses python and gitlab examples to demonstrate good coding practices and collaborative code development strategies.

2021A

Version Control Training at HWSA 2021

Aug. 23, 2021

ADACS delivered Version Control training for both beginners and advanced users at the HWSA (Harley Wood School of Astronomy) in 2021.

Harnessing Supercomputers for Supernova Research

June 13, 2021

The CoCoNuT supernova simulation code has a 6-dimensional radiation solver module for simulating neutrino transport. This method is computationally expensive to run, so ADACS enhanced this module with MPI to run in parallel on supercomputers.

2021A

Optimising Parallel Bilby: Enhancing Efficiency in Gravitational Wave Inference

Nov. 28, 2020

Parallel Bilby is a gravitational wave inference code that was running inefficiently. ADACS analysed the code to identify bottlenecks and gave recommendations on how to improve its performance.

2020B