1st Edition

Spatial Cloud Computing A Practical Approach

By Chaowei Yang, Qunying Huang Copyright 2014
    357 Pages 30 Color & 138 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    374 Pages 30 Color & 138 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    An exploration of the benefits of cloud computing in geoscience research and applications as well as future research directions, Spatial Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach discusses the essential elements of cloud computing and their advantages for geoscience. Using practical examples, it details the geoscience requirements of cloud computing, covers general procedures and considerations when migrating geoscience applications onto cloud services, and demonstrates how to deploy different applications.

    The book discusses how to choose cloud services based on the general cloud computing measurement criteria and cloud computing cost models. The authors examine the readiness of cloud computing to support geoscience applications using open source cloud software solutions and commercial cloud services. They then review future research and developments in data, computation, concurrency, and spatiotemporal intensities of geosciences and how cloud service can be leveraged to meet the challenges. They also introduce research directions from the aspects of technology, vision, and social dimensions.

    Spatial Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach a common workflow for deploying geoscience applications and provides references to the concepts, technical details, and operational guidelines of cloud computing. These features and more give developers, geoscientists, and IT professionals the information required to make decisions about how to select and deploy cloud services.

    Introduction to Cloud Computing for Geosciences
    Geoscience Application Challenges to Computing Infrastructures

    Challenges and Opportunities for Geoscience Applications in the 21st Century
    T
    he Needs of a New Computing Infrastructure
    The Birth of Cloud Computing
    T
    he Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing for Geoscience Applications
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud Computing Architecture, Concepts, and Characteristics

    Concepts
    Cloud Computing Architecture
    Characteristics
    Service Models
    Deployment Models and Cloud Types
    Review of Cloud Computing Resources
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Enabling Technologies

    Hardware Advancements
    Computing Technologies
    Virtualization
    Distributed File System
    Web x.0
    Conclusion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Deploying Applications onto Cloud Services

    How to Use Cloud Computing
    Popular Cloud Services
    Use Case: A Simple Web Application
    Deploying the Web Application onto Cloud Services
    Conclusion and Discussion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud-Enabling Geoscience Applications

    Common Components for Geoscience Applications
    Cloud-Enabling Geoscience Applications
    Use Cases
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    How to Choose Cloud Services: Toward a Cloud Computing Cost Model

    The Importance and Challenges of Selecting Cloud Services
    The Factors Impacting Cloud Service Selection
    Selecting Cloud Services Using the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Cloud Adoption Advisory Tool as an Example
    In-Depth Considerations in Cloud Service Selection and the Development of Advisory Tools
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud-Enabling Geoscience Projects

    ArcGIS in the Cloud
    Introduction
    ArcGIS in the Cloud
    Use Cases
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud-enabling GEOSS Clearinghouse

    GEOSS Clearinghouse: Background and Challenges
    System Demonstration
    Conclusion
    Problems
    Appendix 8.1 Template for Creating an Auto-Scaling Function
    References

    Cloud-enabling Climate@Home

    Climate@Home: Background and Challenges
    Deployment and Optimizations
    System Demonstrations
    Conclusion
    Summary
    Problems
    Appendix 9.1 E4M20a_000040_wu.xml
    Appendix 9.2 Climateathome_re.xml
    References 159

    Cloud-Enabling Dust Storm Forecasting

    Dust Storm Modeling: Background and challenges
    Deployment and Optimization
    Demonstration
    Conclusion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud Computing Status and Readiness

    Cloud Services
    Introduction to Cloud Services
    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Windows Azure
    Nebula
    Conclusion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    How to Test the Readiness of Cloud Services

    Introduction
    Test Environment
    Concurrent Intensity Test Using GEOSS Clearinghouse (CLH)
    Data and Computing Intensities Test Using Climate@Home
    Cloud Test Using Dust Storm Forecasting
    Summary
    Problems
    Appendix 12.1: GetRecords example to search metadata
    Appendix 12.2: Example of Jmeter test plan
    References 221
    Contents xiii

    Open-Source Cloud Computing Solutions

    Introduction to Open-Source Cloud Computing Solutions
    CloudStack
    Eucalyptus
    OpenNebula
    Nimbus
    Open-Source Benchmarking Considerations
    Conclusion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    How to Test the Readiness of Open-Source Cloud Computing Solutions

    Introduction
    Test Environment
    Tests of Cloud Operations
    Tests of Virtual Computing Resources
    Cloud Readiness Test for GEOSS Clearinghouse
    Cloud Readiness Test for Dust Storm Forecasting
    Summary
    Problems
    Appendix 14.1 Ubench Patch File (Ubench-Patch.Txt)
    References

    GeoCloud initiative

    Introduction
    GeoCloud Architecture
    GeoCloud Activities
    GeoCloud Security
    Operational Cost in the Cloud
    Discussion
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Future Directions

    Handling Intensities of Data, Computation, Concurrent Access, and SPATIOTEMPORAL PATTERNS
    Introduction
    Big Data
    Computing Intensity
    Concurrent Intensity
    Spatiotemporal Intensity
    Summary
    Problems
    References

    Cloud Computing Research for Geosciences and Applications

    Evolving 21st Century Vision for Geoscience Applications
    Technological Advancements
    Synergistic Advancement of Social Science and Cloud Computing
    Summary
    Problems
    References
    Index

    Biography

    Chaowei Yang, Qunying Huang

    "…presents a complete picture of advanced spatial cloud computing in the discipline of geosciences. … The authors succeed in delivering a fairly clear comparison and explanation of various cloud computing technologies via several concrete experimental examples, which also helps illustrate the power of cloud computing. … I strongly recommend it …"
    —Tong Zhang, Wuhan University, China

    "this book challenges this apocalyptic reading of Virilio’s work, suggesting that – while he doesn’t provide us with easy solutions to the problems we face – the political force in Virilio’s work comes from the questions he leaves us with about speed, security and global politics in times of crisis, terror and fear. … This book will be of interest to students of critical security studies, political theory, sociology, political geography, cultural studies and IR in general."
    NeoPopRealism Journal & Wonderpedia, March 2013