Advanced features

• Links to databases like SIMBAD or NED should be available to define coordinates. On the basis of a map (from survey databases, or from databases of previous observations) one should be able to define the area to be mapped interactively with a mouse. It would be useful to use existing ALMA (or other) observations as an input data base for defining observations.
• There should be a simulator (attached to the proposal preparation tool) to produce S/N, dirty beams and, for suitable source models, maps with the desired configurations. There should be a database of real data as input (e.g. if one wants to map a source in HCN(4-3), one could use an already existing HCN(3-2) map as input), and easy-to-construct models by defining basic source components: disks, Gaussians, tori etc. One should aim at getting something like the NCSA Astronomy Digital Image Library for ALMA and linking this to the simulator tool. This depends on the policy for data archives to become publicly accessible.

• There should be graphical tools for e.g. correlator setup, such as those in use at BIMA and SMA. This should be linked to existing line surveys for a variety of sources, to be able to place correlator units visually at interesting regions, or to simulated spectra based on physical models. This means a line database (such as the JPL catalog) should also be linked to the tool.