The Challenge:
To enable researchers to collaborate and make sense of complex weather data, and to increase computational resource capacity, while reducing operational complexity and costs.
Cybera’s Solution:
The Cloud-Enabled Space Weather Modeling and Data Assimilation Platform (CESWP) is a CANARIE NEP v2 project that will simplify researcher access to space weather simulation tools using cloud-computing technologies. The CESWP project will provide a seamless entry point to these simulation tools that will dramatically improve the sustainability, flexibility, and performance of the simulation technology. It will also result in improvements in research productivity and efficiency. Space weather occurs in the environment existing between the sun and the Earth. It has an impact on Canada and other countries’ communication, power, and other distribution systems. Scientists are studying ways to forecast space weather events in an effort to avoid interruptions to these vital systems. The CESWP is the second stage of the CSSDP CANARIE NEP v1 project that is nearing completion. The platform will enable Alberta space science researchers to collaborate with international and national partners. The CESWP project’s versatile approach to a cloud computing service responds to the space science community's need to increase computational capacity while reducing operational complexity and costs. By using CESWP, Alberta space scientists will improve their ability to collaborate with international and national partners.
Cyberinfrastructure at Work:
The CESWP project demonstrates the following cyberinfrastructure innovations:
• Cloud computing technologies to simplify access to leading-edge simulation tools
• Powerful computing resources to process large data sets
• Data storage and management capabilities
• Advanced networks to connect national and international partners
How this Project Affects You:
Canada will benefit from the CESWP project by cementing its position as a leader within the international space sciences community. The two-year project, starting in November 2009, is timely in addressing a new Canadian government-mandate focused on space exploration. The CESWP project will see an explosion in new data sets that require international cooperation and complex modeling in their analysis.
Investment:
The CESWP project is a jointly funded project by CANARIE and Cybera valued at over $900,000.
Partners:
• CANARIE
• Cybera
• Department of Physics, University of Alberta
• Grid Research Centre, University of Calgary
• Department of Physics, University of New Brunswick
• Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo
Last updated on June 3, 2010
