What is this project about and why are we doing it?
This project is about delivering fit-for-purpose storage and computing infrastructure. This will be delivered by deploying new hardware, software, and expertise to create:
A central storage space for all AgResearch’s research data.
Replacing our aging legacy High Performance Computing (HPC) with a more performant compute environment
Provide application support to researchers through our partnership with the talented people at NeSI (New Zealand eScience Infrastructure)
Relevant Gateway articles:
https://agresearchnz.sharepoint.com/sites/Gateway/SitePages/eResearch-platform-update.aspx
What is the difference between AgResearch’s eResearch Platform and the eResearch Infrastructure?
eResearch enabling platform has four objectives to improve AgResearch’s eResearch capability. One of those objectives is to provide fit-for-purpose storage and computing infrastructure.
A central storage spaces will help with:
Data discoverability: The central storage space will work with our new Outputs Management System (OMS) to ensure all research data are catalogued, hence assisting with data discoverability.
Data organisation - this will make it easier to locate and access data. Additionally, it will ensure that data is stored in a consistent and secure manner.
There will be robust systems in place for backup and recovery thus protecting valuable research data from loss or corruption.
The system will allow us giving access to our collaborators, thus enabling researchers to collaborate on projects more easily.
The HPC will enable our researchers to:
Processing large data sets, thus enabling them to analyse and visualize their data in a timely manner.
Developing, training and scaling up models in Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
Modelling and simulating complex systems
Collaboration: The new system will enable our collaborators to also access the data and compute system. This is especially important because most of our research now is moving towards transdisciplinary fields and we will need expertise from a range of areas to to tackle complex problems.