Data integration challenges in astronomy

Astronomical objects emit electromagnetic waves at different wavelengths from radio waves to gamma-rays. Measurements obtained with each wavelength bring a unique piece of information about the environment of the object. Different instruments at different wavelengths have observed astronomical objects with unprecedented quality. However, integrating these data to form a coherent view is a challenging task. Recent, rapid development of software algorithms allow us to develop frameworks to incorporate low-level data that comes in different formats and have different handling procedures. We are developing a framework, called 3ML, for combining data from astronomical observations made with different instruments to form a coherent model. I will present the challenges of data integration, the structure of the 3ML framework, and updates from our work on generating a multi-wavelength compatible model for the Crab Pulsar Wind Nebula.