Published by Australian Academy of Science
Activity 1 | Simply astronomical – the Square Kilometre Array

Australia or southern Africa? Choosing a site for the Square Kilometre Array

Note: this activity is suited to groups of 4 students

You are members of the International SKA Science and Engineering Committee responsible for deciding which site, Australia or southern Africa, is more suitable for building the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

To help make your decision your group is to conduct a SWOT analysis for each site. A SWOT analysis is a useful evaluation tool to help analyse the positives and negatives of an issue (in this case the site). It helps to evaluate the issue objectively by considering all sides. The issue is considered for internal factors (eg, radio interference) and external factors (eg, socio-economic issues).

1. Use the resources available in further reading and useful sites to find out about the suitability of both sites for the SKA. Particularly useful information can be found in:

   SKA, Site Characterisation Working Group (see Committees and working groups menu)
   South Africa's competitive advantage
   Array for Australia? Cosmos, 27 September 2006
   Candidate sites for world's largest telescope face first big hurdle, Science, 18 August 2006
   Australia and the Square Kilometre Array
   Australian Science, April 2008, pages 20–22, Telescope wars
   Australian Science, August 2006, pages 16–19, Largest telescope plan becomes even larger

2. Make two copies of the SWOT template below. Your committee is to use the templates to list the positives and negatives for each site.

   Some aspects you may wish to consider in your analysis:

   radio interference/ionospheric conditions
   location
   area
   experience/technology
   cost
   infrastructure
   orientation
   elevation
   socio-economic issues
   support

3. Using the analysis of each site, decide within your committee the best site for the SKA.

4. Record the chosen site using dot points to justify your committee's final decision.

SWOT TEMPLATE

	INTERNAL	EXTERNAL
POSITIVE	STRENGTHS	OPPORTUNITIES
NEGATIVE	WEAKNESSES	THREATS