Grid Computing for Real Time Distributed Collaborative Geoprocessing

Abstract

Grid computing has emerged as an important new field in the distributed computing arena. It focuses on intensive resource sharing, innovative applications, and, in some cases, high-performance orientation. In this paper we describe Grid computing concepts and technologies and establish compelling reasons for why they may prove useful for important geospatial research and application issues. Then we review high performance parallel geoprocessing in general. Finally, we propose an example GIS application scenario that will employ underlying Grid computing technology intensively. We report results on a prototype employing a universal soil loss equation implemented on an array of supercomputer processors.