Performance Verification of the FlashCam Prototype Camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future gamma-ray observatory that is planned to significantly improve upon the sensitivity and precision of the current generation of Cherenkov telescopes. The observatory will consist of several dozens of telescopes with different sizes and equipped with different types of cameras. Of these, the FlashCam camera system is the first to implement a fully digital signal processing chain which allows for a traceable, configurable trigger scheme and flexible signal reconstruction. As of autumn 2016, a prototype FlashCam camera for the medium-sized telescopes of CTA nears completion. First results of the ongoing system tests demonstrate that the signal chain and the readout system surpass CTA requirements. The stability of the system is shown using long-term temperature cycling.Comment: 5 pages, 13 figures, Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors (RICH 2016), Lake Bled, Sloveni

FlashCam: a fully-digital camera for the medium-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The FlashCam group is currently preparing photomultiplier-tube based cameras proposed for the medium-sized telescopes (MST) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The cameras are designed around the FlashCam readout concept which is the first fully-digital readout system for Cherenkov cameras, based on commercial FADCs and FPGAs as key components for the front-end electronics modules and a high performance camera server as back-end. This contribution describes the progress of the full-scale FlashCam camera prototype currently under construction, as well as performance results also obtained with earlier demonstrator setups. Plans towards the production and implementation of FlashCams on site are also briefly presented.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1508.0589

A pan-European initiative to formulate a framework for blended learning targeting continuing professional development in the construction industry

Learning is a complex set of inter-related cognitive processes. In higher education changes that can be identified are the need to become more flexible in the delivery of lifelong learning opportunities to meet the needs of construction professionals and integrating e-learning technology in the delivery of these programmes. The evolution of ICT continues at a rapid rate and technological standards continue to evolve to allow for adaptability, interoperability and reuseability of online material. For higher education, the intensive resource requirements required in the development of e-learning content and the challenges in accommodating different learning styles, developing an e-learning programme can be a resource intensive exercise for higher education. Coupled with this, many e-learning initiatives have been less than successful for a number of reasons. A network of educational institutions in Europe has come together to develop a framework focused on the lifelong learning needs of engineers and other professionals in the construction industry while participants remain in employment. The main objective of this network is to establish a platform where different instructional strategies to accommodate different learning styles and cognitive processes will be developed. Other target groupings include other higher-level institutes outside of the partner institutes and professional and industrial representative bodies in the construction industry who may integrate the lessons learned into their programmes. The major expected outputs are a database of learning resources that may be integrated into CPD learning programmes delivered in a blended learning format. A methodology to formulate this framework is outlined