IRIS - scientific image processor with open architecture

Korokhin V.V., Beletsky S.A., Velikodsky Yu.I.

IRIS system is a program complex for processing and analysis of large arrays of research data (in particular, images). IRIS is a researcher's toolbox to decide a lot of concrete problems. System IRIS is oriented, first of all, on the researcher - a scientist, engineer, graduate student, student etc.

basic principles of the system development

- Comfortable, natural, uniform interface (Drag&Drop, maximal using a mouse, visualization, interactivity, multiplicity of ways of control, easy educating).
- Multi-configuring (configuration saving for each task and for each user).
- Operation in modern multitasking operating systems (Windows 9x/NT).
- Orientation on standards (FITS, Windows 9x/NT, OLE, TCP/IP, ODI).
- Openness of architecture, expandability (integration with other packages and possibility for other programs to use any IRIS component (DLL, OLE)).
- Structured approach, both at a level of system architectures and at a level of source code (object oriented programming technology). - Maximal code reuse.

Architecture of IRIS

IrIn- Iris-integrator - system shell, data kits management, macro-language "Bastis" processor. It contains a kit of standard procedures of data processing.
WisA- data visualization and analysis.
HeadEdit - viewing and editing accompanying information (in particular, FITS-headers), management of system log.
System components can be used both as autonomous applications and in the system composition. Including the additional modules (plug-ins) can expand system IRIS. So, for processing digital images of the Sun plug-in "Helios" was designed. It contains a number of procedures required for stations or solar activity monitoring: determination of center and radius of image, account of darkening to the edge of the Sun, determination of details positions on the disk in several coordinate systems and others. Kit of functions can be easy supplemented.

Ways of using the system

- Creating algorithms of processing on language "Bastis"(Bastis is a simple, intuitive program language; it uses the technology of visual building of algorithms; it is available for all, who has basic knowledge about programming).
- Including additional user's modules (plug-ins) (DLL or OLE-servers) (Special knowledge is needed; it is available for advanced programmers).
- Inclusion of the system component into user's applications by OLE technology using (Special knowledge is needed; it is available for advanced programmers).
At present IRIS system is intensively developing. IRIS is used on Astronomical observatory of Kharkov State University for processing cinematographic data of the solar eclipses 1972, 1981 years, spectro-heliogramms of the Sun, data of lunar surface photometry by spacecraft "Clementine", data of polarimetry of Jupiter and its satellites, automations of observing with CCD. System is used also on Astronomical observatory of Kiev National University for automation of chromospheric telescope AFR-2 and for processing data of the Sun observations.

IRIS is a winner of annual "SoftRegatta'99" software contest (Kiev, Ukraine).

It is possible to find last version of IRIS at http://www.cyteg.com