A key result of the overall work by the consortium is the adaptation of the methodology of synthetic populations to the needs of global systems research. Another result is a new understanding of the difference between two kinds of architectures for high-performance computing (HPC) software. On one hand there is the architecture of parallelized software used to model large numbers of entitites linked by proximity relations, with fluid dynamics as the paradigmatic domain. Most existing software for HPC is of this kind and exploits the proximity relations between large numbers of hardware components. On the other hand there is the architecture of parallelized software used to model large numbers of entitites linked not only by proximity relations but also by direct long-distance links. Advances in the development of such software are among the main results of CoeGSS.
Together with the already available Synthetic Population generator and the introduced Synthetic Network generator, a workflow for creating entire Synthetic Information Systems has been established. This workflow is HPC capable and supports parallel execution by making use of the state-of-the-art Message Passing Interface. Furthermore, efficient mechanisms for managing specific workflows have been developed, based on four Domain Specific languages (DSLs) that simplify workflow composition, but also data manipulation and interchange.
Next, the examples of global challenges chosen by CoeGSS – green growth ,health habits, and urbanisation – have been addressed with specific models built by members of the consortium. It has been possible to perform related parametric studies in a reasonable amount of time, enabled by HPC simulation, High Performance Data Analytics and in-situ visualisation.
Last not least, a Portal for CoeGSS has been built, relying on a completed Single-Sign-On mechanism that offers a new level of transparency to its users. Through the application of a testing and verification methodology, potential issues were detected and eliminated so that a well-balanced Portal is available to the Pilots and CoeGSS stakeholders. Finally, the Portal offers the ability to submit HPC batch jobs to HPC clusters.
A rich set of publications during the duration of the project established the mandatory impact. In conjunction with two well-organised Conferences in Lucca / Italy and a series of stakeholder interactions, the awareness for the potential of HPC has been raised among experts for global challenges, while HPC specialists have begun to perceive the importanceof those challenges for their work.
In Europe and beyond, the work of the consortium ushered in a series of initiatives bringing HPC to the new frontier of global challenges. In Europe, this includes the successor Center of Excellence, HiDALGO – HPC and Big Data Technologies for Global Challenges –, coordinated by ATOS, one of the CoeGSS consortium members. Globally, it includes the cooperation that the Global Climate Forum, another consortium member, has set up on the basis of CoeGSS with the Konrad Zuse Institute in Berlin – partner of the North-German HPC network –, with Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany, as well as with Arizona State University in the U.S. and with the Beijing Institute for Big Data Research in China.
