Authors
Wendy Mason (Schools of Geosciences and Mathematical Sciences, Monash University), Steve Quenette (Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing), Darran Carey (Australian Research Collaboration Service), and Louis Moresi (Schools of Geosciences and Mathematical Sciences, Monash University)
Wendy Mason is the recipient of a postgraduate student bursary sponsored by VeRSI.
Abstract
Underworld is a 3D-parallel Geodynamic modelling framework being developed by AuScope ‘Simulation, Analysis, Modelling’ Victoria. Each Underworld release supplies a set of template models, which researchers can adapt to their own research to investigate Geophysical settings such as mantle convention, lithospheric extension and tectonic plate subduction. An Underworld module is installed after each release at a range of High Performance Computing (HPC) facilities, the details of which are then published via the NCI National Facility Software Map to the Monitoring and Discovery Service (MDS) for acquisition by Grid submission clients such as Grisu.
The Grisu Grid submission client graphical user interface is being developed by the Australian Research Collaboration Service (ARCS). An Underworld job submission template developed for Grisu allows novice users of Underworld, with no prior experience with compute clusters or the Linux command-line, to easily and quickly submit an Underworld input file to a cluster across the ARCS Compute Grid.
Following the Grisu release, we conducted an Underworld Grid Workshop at Monash University. Attendees included postgraduate students, academic and professional staff from several Victorian and interstate universities, Geoscience Victoria DPI and Geoscience Australia. Participants in the hands-on component used their own laptops, running Mac OSX, Linux and Windows operating systems, and logged into Grisu using Shibboleth with their ARCS Identity Provider (ARCS IdP) account details. The workshop provided a brief overview of the structure of Underworld input files, and demonstrated sample workflows for running Underworld models, and previewing and retrieving the output, on different HPC facilities across the ARCS Grid using Grisu. Outcomes of the workshop included immediate Underworld uptake by additional members of the local Geoscience community, as well as new interest in the planned expansion of Underworld module installations at additional HPC facilities.
About the speaker
Wendy Mason is currently completing a PhD in Computational Geodynamics in the School of Geosciences at Monash University, and works for AuScope ‘Simulation, Analysis, Modelling’ (SAM) Victoria as the Underworld eResearch Officer. AuScope SAM Victoria develops the Geodynamics code Underworld, which Wendy uses in her PhD research to model buoyancy effects on subduction zones. She writes and maintains some of the Underworld user documentation, coordinates installation of Underworld releases at High Performance Computing (HPC) facilities on the ARCS Grid, and liaises with the eResearch community regarding tools and services useful to AuScope SAM Victoria and other Underworld users.