Scientific visualization in high-speed network environments

Abstract

In several cases, new visualization techniques have vastly increased the researchers' ability to analyze and comprehend data. Similarly, the role of networks in providing an efficient supercomputing environment has become more critical and continues to grow and at a faster rate than the increase in the processing capabilities of supercomputers. A close relationship between scientific visualization and high-speed networks in providing an important link to support efficient supercomputing is identified. The two technologies are driven by the increasing complexities and volume of supercomputer data. The interactions of scientific visualization and high-speed networks in a Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation/visualization environment are given. Current capabilities supported by high-speed networks, supercomputers, and high-performance graphics workstations at the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation Facility (NAS), NASA Ames Research Center are described. Applied research in providing a supercomputer visualization environments to support future computational requirements are summarized.