A grid computing based virtual laboratory for environmental simulations

The grid computing technology permits the coordinate, efficient and effective use of (geographically spread) computational and storage resources with the aim to achieve high performance throughputs for intensive CPU load applications. In this paper we describe the development of a virtual laboratory for environmental applications. The software infrastructure, and the related interface, are developed for the straightforward use of shared and distributed observations, software, computing and storage resources. The user can design and execute his experiments building up and assembling data acquisition procedures, numerical models, and applications for the rendering of output data, with limited knowledge of grid computing, thereby focusing his attention to the application. Our solution aims at the goal of developing black-box grid applications for earth observation, marine and environmental sciences. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.