Cube Analysis and Rendering Tool for Astronomy (CARTA) is a next generation image visualization and analysis tool designed for ALMA, VLA, and SKA pathfinders.
CARTA adopts a client-server architecture which is suitable for visualizing images with large file sizes (GB to TB).
CARTA has two flavors: Desktop version and Server version. The former is suitable for single-user usage with a laptop, a desktop, or a remote server in the “remote” execution mode. The later is suitable for institution-wide deployment to support multiple users with user authentication and additional server-side features.
This is free and open source software.
Features include:
- Memory-efficient when loading images – with ~1 GB of ram, a 16000 pixel x 16000 pixel image or a 16000 pixel x 16000 pixel x 1000 channel cube (~1 TB in size) can be loaded in seconds.
- Parallelization and GPU-accelerated rendering – parallelization with CPUs is invoked in data processing. GPU-accelerated rendering is adopted for tiled raster images, contour images, and catalog overlays.
- Spectral line cube analysis tools – flexible multi-profile plotting capability is supported. Analysis tools such as profile fitting, profile smoothing, moment map generator, and spectral line query and labelling are out of box.
- Customizable and reusable GUI layouts and preferences – highly customizable and reusable graphical user interface for various use cases.
- Efficient catalog processing and rendering – catalogs with millions of sources can be loaded and rendered in seconds. Catalog files are processed with parallelization techniques and are rendered with GPU acceleration.
- Efficient visualization with HDF5 (IDIA schema) images – the HDF5 format with the IDIA schema improves the user’s experience of viewing large image cubes significantly.
Website: cartavis.org
Support: GitHub Code Repositories
Developer: Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Department of Physics, University of Alberta
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
CARTA is written in C++ and TypeScript. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn TypeScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Return to Astronomical Data Analysis
| Popular series | |
|---|---|
 | The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. |
 | Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. |
 | Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS. |
 | Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. |
 | Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. |
 | New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. |
 | Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. |
 | Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. |
 | Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. |
 | Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. |
 | Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. |
 | Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. |
 | Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. |
 | Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. |
 | Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. |
 | Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. |
 | Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. |
 | These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! |
 | These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. |
 | Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. |
 | Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. |