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Simulation Working Group (SimWG)

Configuration Simulation Task Force

1) The CSTF will be composed of representatives from all site proposal teams, all concept teams, the International SKA Project Office (ISPO), the Science Working Group (SWG), and the Site Evaluation Working group (SEWG). The CSTF will be Chaired by the Chair of the Simulation Working Group (SimWG). The CSTF is a sub-group of the SimWG and reports to the ISPO.

2) The CSTF will produce guidelines for array configuration simulations that proposers are required to present as part of their site proposals. The guidelines will follow directly from the Request for Proposals and will include advice to proposers on:

a) Simulation software packages available for array configuration simulations;

b) The specifications for several example SKA configurations that proposers can use as the basis for their simulations. Proposers will have the freedom to specify an array configuration within the constraints set in the Request for Proposals and described in detail in the guidelines. Proposers may or may not choose to base their configurations on the examples provided.

c) The figures-of-merit that will be used in the final evaluation and comparison of array configurations between the different sites

3) The CSTF will evaluate all proposed array configurations as part of the overall site evaluation process following the deadline for proposal submission. The configurations will be evaluated using the criteria and figures-of-merit detailed in the guidelines. The results of the evaluation process will be reported to the ISPO.

4) The CSTF will undertake revisions of the simulation guidelines and any other tasks related to the array configuration simulations as required by the ISPO.

Members
- Marcelo Arnal, Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía, Argentina
- Ramesh Bhat, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
- Wim Brouw, ASTRON, The Netherlands
- Tim Cornwell, Australia Telescope National Facility, Australia
- Catherine Cress, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Peter Dewdney, SKA Program Development Office
- Shep Doelman, Haystack Observatory, USA
- Bryan Gaensler, University of Sydney, Australia
- Michael Garrett, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, The Netherlands
- Peter Hall (Chair), International SKA Project Office
- Jasper Horrell, Saragato software, South Africa
- Jacques Lepine, University of Sao Paolo, Brazil
- George Nicolson, Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, South Africa
- A. Pramesh Rao, National Centre for Radio Astronomy, India
- Yan Su, National Astronomical Observatories, China
- Yervant Terzian, Cornell University, USA
- Steven Tingay (chair), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
- Maxim Voronkov, Australia Telescope National Facility, Australia
- Craig Walker, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA