ConvertGrid: Grid enabling existing social science data infrastructures and services.
Keith Cole, Pascal Ekin, Linda Mason, Jon Maclaren
Keith Cole,Linda Mason
MIMAS, Manchester Computing, University of Manchester, UK
Pascal Ekin
RSS, Manchester Computing, University of Manchester, UK
Jon Maclaren
Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, USA
Email address of corresponding author: keith.cole@manchester.ac.uk
The aim of the ConvertGrid project was to demonstrate the advantages that Grid technologies can bring to the social sciences, by using such technologies to address key problems facing researchers who want to combine data from multiple geo-referenced data sets. The ConvertGrid project has developed a Grid based solution to this problem of geographical conversion. The ConvertGrid system has expanded upon the capabilities of the existing Convert service by linking it to potential data resources via the Grid. It enables users to select data of interest across a range of topics from multiple datasets, convert this data to a common target geography using geographical conversion tables. The resultant data streams are combined and returned to the user or transferred automatically to a web based mapping/visualisation interface. All the data retrieval and geographical conversion processes are hidden from the user. The ConvertGrid project has demonstrated how Grid technologies can be used to automate very complex workflows and also help to stimulate novel forms of research through promoting increased and more effective use of multiple data sources. However, developing a Grid based service to access, integrate and analyse multiple datasets which is simple to use has required the project team to address a number of key technical and/or methodological challenges.
