The BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN)
As emerging economies, the BRICS countries face a specific set of challenges, but are also uniquely placed to act on the opportunities that the fourth industrial revolution presents. At the 5th annual BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) meeting held in 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representatives from the BRICS countries, based on input from their astronomical communities, agreed to develop a Flagship project taking advantage of the combined scientific, technological and engineering expertise of the BRICS member states to meet these challenges and provide a world-class facility for astronomical research.
The BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN) is a collaborative scientific enterprise, drawing on the strengths of all five BRICS partners, while at the same time seeking to address in-country socioeconomic development challenges. The Flagship scientific programme will develop a network of astronomical telescopes, some already existing, and an associated intelligent data network which is the enabler for the science programme. This will leverage existing and planned new telescope and cyber facilities within the BRICS countries and will also draw on the opportunities presented by other multi-wavelength space- and ground-based facilities within, or accessed by, the BRICS countries.
Thanks to their unique, worldwide geographical distribution, BRICS countries are well placed to take a global lead in the rapidly expanding domain of wide-field multi-wavelength imaging sky surveys and the detection and study of transient and time-variable phenomena in the Universe, as well as technical solutions to the associated enormous Big Data and Big Compute challenges. This ambitious plan for a global network of optical telescopes, with the unprecedented ability to observe the entire sky continuously on a timescale of less than an hour, will greatly increase our ability to monitor the changing cosmos.
The flagship scientific programme will develop a network of astronomical telescopes, some already existing, and an associated intelligent data network which is the enabler for the science programme. This will leverage existing and planned new telescope and cyber facilities within the BRICS countries and will also draw on the opportunities presented by other multi-wavelength space- and ground-based facilities within, or accessed by, the BRICS group. The programme focuses on two key areas:
1) the scientific advance, within the BRICS partners, of the rapidly expanding domain of wide-field multi-wavelength imaging sky surveys and the detection and study of transient and time-variable phenomena in the Universe, one of the pillars of modern astrophysics, and
2) technical solutions to the associated enormous Big Data and Big Compute challenges arising from such worldwide networks of transient detectors and imaging surveys, including the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), leading global projects in which many BRICS countries are actively involved.
To read more about the BRICS Astronomy Proposal: BRICS_ITDN_fin (1)
Articles:
F.A.Q.
The BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN) is the flagship collaborative project of BRICS Astronomy. It is an ambitious initiative to create a global network of astronomical telescopes across the BRICS member countries, complemented by a sophisticated data network. The BITDN aims to harness the combined scientific, technological, and engineering expertise of BRICS nations to address cutting-edge challenges in astronomy, particularly in the realm of time-domain astronomy and big data.
The main scientific objective of the BITDN is to enable continuous, wide-field multi-wavelength imaging sky surveys. This allows for the rapid detection and detailed study of transient and time-variable phenomena in the Universe, such as supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and fast radio bursts. By observing the entire sky continuously on a rapid cadence, the BITDN will provide unprecedented insights into the dynamic nature of the cosmos and facilitate the discovery of rare and energetic astronomical events.
The BITDN is designed with a phased approach. The initial phase focuses on integrating and networking existing astronomical facilities (telescopes, data centers) within each BRICS country. This leverages current infrastructure to respond efficiently to transient alerts and conduct follow-up science. Subsequent phases will involve the development of new, dedicated 1-meter class telescopes strategically distributed across the BRICS nations to further enhance the network’s capabilities for wider, deeper, and faster transient detection. The unique geographical distribution of BRICS countries is key to achieving continuous sky coverage.
The “Intelligent” aspect of BITDN refers to the integration of advanced computational techniques, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). These technologies are crucial for processing, analyzing, and interpreting the massive volumes of data generated by the network’s telescopes. AI and ML will enable automated detection of transient events, efficient data classification, and the development of sophisticated tools for scientific discovery. The “Data Network” component emphasizes the robust infrastructure needed to transmit, store, and share this vast astronomical data seamlessly across participating institutions in BRICS countries, facilitating collaborative research.
Beyond its scientific objectives, the BITDN is committed to addressing socio-economic development challenges within BRICS countries. The project actively promotes human capital development through various initiatives, including training programs, workshops, and student exchange opportunities in data science, machine learning, astronomy, and related engineering fields. The development of advanced computational skills and infrastructure for the BITDN has broader applications in other data-intensive sectors, contributing to the Fourth Industrial Revolution paradigm. The project also aims to inspire young minds in science and technology and improve public understanding of science.