Visualization in Grid Computing Environments

• Published in: 2004 IEEE Visualization Conference pp. 155 - 162
• Main Authors: Brodlie, Ken, Duce, David, Gallop, Julian, Sagar, Musbah, Walton, Jeremy, Wood, Jason
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC, USA IEEE Computer Society 10.10.2004; IEEE
• Series: ACM Conferences
• Subjects: Application software; Applied sciences; Computational modeling; computational steering; Computer applications; Computer science; control theory; systems; Computer systems and distributed systems. User interface; Exact sciences and technology; Grid computing; Iris; Libraries; Pipelines; Software; Software and its engineering; Software and its engineering > Software organization and properties; Software and its engineering > Software organization and properties > Software system structures; Software and its engineering > Software organization and properties > Software system structures > Distributed systems organizing principles; Software systems; Visualization; visualization reference models; visualization systems; XML; visualization systems; visualization reference models; XML; grid computing; computational steering; High performance; Visualization; Pipeline processor; Modular system; Resource allocation; Grid; Abstract interpretation; XML language; Distributed system; Distributed computing; Modeling; Data flow; Pollutant; User interface; Lubrication; Multilevel system
• ISBN: 0780387880; 9780780387881
• DOI: 10.1109/VISUAL.2004.112

Grid computing provides a challenge for visualization system designers. In this research, we evolve the dataflow concept to allow parts of the visualization process to be executed remotely in a secure and seamless manner. We see dataflow at three levels: an abstract specification of the intent of the visualization; a binding of these abstract modules to a specific software system; and then a binding of software to processing and other resources. We develop an XML application capable of describing visualization at the three levels. To complement this, we have implemented an extension to a popular visualization system, IRIS Explorer, which allows modules in a dataflow pipeline to run on a set of Grid resources. For computational steering applications, we have developed a library that allows a visualization system front-end to connect to a simulation running remotely on a Grid resource. We demonstrate the work in two applications: the dispersion of a pollutant under different wind conditions; and the solution of a challenging numerical problem in elastohydrodynamic lubrication