Abstract

This paper concerns the use of distributed computers for solving large scientific modelling problems. In many fields, a designer may wish to explore a set of alternative scenarios. If numerical simulation is used as the experimental process, then this means executing a number of independent jobs and then aggregating the results in some way. There are currently two main ways of organising the execution on multiple computers, namely the use of remote job execution systems, or building distributed applications. This paper explores both of these, and proposes a user interface based on a laboratory bench metaphor. It then describes a prototype system with the advantages of both current job generation methods. The system is built on top of the Distributed Computing Environment from the Open Software Foundation. A real world example, photo chemical pollution modelling, is used as a sample application.