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The Desktop Modelling Toolkit: Grid Computing and Conceptual Modelling for Structural Geology and Reactive Transport
Gordon W. H. German (2008). The Desktop Modelling Toolkit: Grid Computing and Conceptual Modelling for Structural Geology and Reactive Transport. In: , Proceedings of eResearch Australasia 2008. eResearch Australasia 2008, Melbourne, Australia, (). 28 September - 3 October 2008.
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| Name |
Description |
MIMEType |
Size |
Downloads |
era_44.doc
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Conference paper |
application/msword |
268KB |
108 |
| Author(s) |
Gordon W. H. German
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| Title of paper |
The Desktop Modelling Toolkit: Grid Computing and Conceptual Modelling for Structural Geology and Reactive Transport
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| Conference name |
eResearch Australasia 2008
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| Conference location |
Melbourne, Australia
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| Conference dates |
28 September - 3 October 2008
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| Convener |
Australian Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
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| Proceedings title |
Proceedings of eResearch Australasia 2008
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| Publication date |
2008
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| Abstract/Summary |
Within the domains of reactive transport and structural geology, numerical simulations are often used to approximate a real-world scenario. Such simulations generally require both highly specific domain knowledge, and an in-depth knowledge of a specific numerical solver and its syntax. Additionally, these simulations often run in very specific computational environments (eg Windows pools, Linux supercomputers, Linux clusters) that themselves require a steep learning curve in terms of library and module dependencies, gaining accounts, logging in, data formatting, moving data etc. For a geologist to become fluent in all of the above areas requires a significant investment of time and effort outside of the scientific field of interest. Numerical solvers are normally specific to particular problem domains (eg 'mechanical deformation', 'fluid flow' 'chemical deposition' etc), and are usually highly complex pieces of commercial code with their own specific language and syntax. Hence changing the numerical solver (for instance to a newer code that is faster or more scale-appropriate) becomes a daunting and rarely-done task. Even within the one solver, there are often so many ways to construct simulations for the same problem that consistency and repeatability can suffer. A similar issue arises for using alternative computational resources to actually run the simulation on. The Desktop Modelling Toolkit (DMT) buffers the user from most of these issues. It is a tool that allows the user to specify certain geo-scientific problems on a conceptual level, without recourse to specific numerical idiosyncrasies of the actual solver that will run the simulation; solver-specific pseudo-code is auto-generated by the DMT. It also manages interactions with Grid-Computing resources on the user's behalf, insulating the user from the specific requirements of the computational resource that the simulation will run on. The DMT is aimed at modellers who wish to run simulations of mechanical deformation, fluid flow, thermal regimes and/or chemical interactions in the area of Earth crustal processes; however, it is foreseeable that it could be modified to suit a range of other modelling domains, such as seismic processing, magneto-tellurics etc. It provides a fast-track to setting up and running multiple simulations (often required for parameter sweeps or geological inversion techniques) and is particularly useful for training new researchers or students. Through the enforcing of consistent algorithms and coding standards, it is also an important method of ensuring experimental repeatability.
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| Subjects |
280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
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