Virtual Research Environments examines making Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usable by researchers working to solve "grand challenge? problems in many disciplines from social science to particle physics. It is driven by research the authors have carried out to evaluate researchers' requirements in using information services via web portals and in adapting collaborative learning tools to meet their more diverse needs, particularly in a multidisciplinary study.This is the motivation for what the authors have helped develop into the UK Virtual Research Environments (VRE) programme. They illustrate generics with specific instances of studies carried out comparing portal technologies and evaluating usability. This work, and further development of collaboration and Webbased research tools has been carried out with international collaborators, in particular using the Sakai framework and other recent Java-language based portal programming frameworks and associated standards.The book is divided into a number of chapters providing motivation, illustrations, comparisons of technology and tools, practical information about deployment and use and comments on issues and difficulties in ensuring uptake of e-Science and Grid technology by already practicing researchers.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"A useful addition to the stock of many libraries in universities and other research institutions." --Refer"A valuable resource for e-research initiated and novices at present, and will document the state of e-research in 2008 for posterity." --Library Management
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Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
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Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 156 mm
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ISBN-13
978-1-84334-562-6 (9781843345626)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Robert Allan, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, UK
Autor*in
Consultant Physician, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
List of figures and tables
Figures
Tables
About the author
Acknowledgments
Preface
1: Introduction
What is e-research?
What is a VRE?
Portals and science gateways for e-research
A service-oriented architecture approach
Development methodology
2: Motivation and requirements
Research lifecycle: data, information and knowledge
Generic usage scenario and requirements
What functionality does an e-researcher need?
What components need to be integrated for e-research?
Illustrative examples
3: Creating and using research data
Characteristics of data
High-performance computing in e-research
Managing research data
4: Managing and using digital information
Information sources used by researchers
E-research and the wider information environment
5: Collaboration, trust and security
Virtual organisations and their implementation
Collaborative working
Collaboration tools
Security in a VRE: authentication and authorisation
6: Domain differences and usability
E-research, e-learning and digital information
Differences between research domains
Usability
7: VRE architecture: the technology
Don't reinvent the wheel
N-tier architecture
Web services and service-oriented architecture
Security frameworks
VRE service definitions
What e-infrastructure is available?
8: E-infrastructure and grid resources
What is grid computing?
Grid applications
Middleware
E-infrastructure, SOA and services
9: Desktop environments and the web
Lightweight grid computing
Desktop e-research tools
E-research portals
10: The Sakai collaborative learning and research framework
Working with Sakai
Portal prototype: the Sakai VRE Demonstrator
Portal organisation and use cases
11: Example 1: E-infrastructure for social science research
A scenario from social science research
Social science research data
High-performance modelling and software development
Training and outreach
E-infrastructure for social science research
Experiences with the NCeSS VRE
12: Example 2: E-infrastructure for experimental facilities
Requirements and prerequisites
Mapping requirements to data flow, data models and analysis
Project management and other issues
13: Conclusions: lessons learned and limitations
Top ten e-research requirements
Impact of e-research
Future
Appendix A: E-research portals and gateways
USA: TeraGrid Science Gateways
Projects in Europe
Australasia
Appendix B: E-research tools and services
Portlet registry
Appendix C: Generic portal engines
Commercial
Public domain
Appendix D: Glossary
Abbreviations and acronyms
Web services nomenclature
Bibliography
Index
