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How Technology Helps to Forecast Weather and Reduce Wildfire Ignitions

By marketing@site-a.com

How Big Data Is Changing Weather Modeling and Wildfire Analysis – Updated September 2020

LAKE FOREST, Calif., September 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In early 2018, PSSC Labs, a developer of custom High Performance Computing and Big Data computing solutions, in collaboration with Atmospheric Data Solutions (ADS), partnered together to design, build and implement custom HPC Clusters that could be used to assist utility companies as well as public and private agencies in predicting, mitigating and managing risk from severe weather patterns. This type of technology is absolutely critical in helping municipalities and government agencies in being able to assist in predicting and addressing wildfires like those being experienced in 2020 which to date has resulted in the evacuation orders of over 500,000 in Oregon alone. PSSC Labs HPC clusters can be used to analyze real-time data near wildfires, like temperature, humidity, and wind speed to help experts predict the movement patterns of the fire.

PSSC Labs is currently working with a number of large utility companies to quickly implement high performance computing solutions that are focused specifically on weather modeling and that have the ability to predict the potential paths of wildfires.  This powerful HPC computing combination of weather modeling and wildfire analysis has the power to potentially save lives.

Accurate severe weather and wildfire predictions require technologically advanced high performance computing servers and artificial intelligence (AI) and PSSC Labs has powerful custom solutions to help meet this need.  PSSC Labs’ PowerWulf Cluster weather solutions provide cutting-edge hardware that efficiently processes large amounts of data needed to train complex AI models for valuable wildfire potential forecasts.

For example, a government website called the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index developed in collaboration with a major southern California utility company, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and ADS forecasts short-term and long-term large wildfire potential. The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index site advises the USFS and the public on approaching wildfire potential events using forecasted weather and wildfire-centric variables including dead and live fuel moisture, all of which are generated on PSSC Labs PowerWulf Clusters.

This highly developed solution predicted large fire potential during the busy Santa Ana wind season providing month-ahead and season-ahead forecasts that warned of above normal Santa Ana winds this past fall. The public received forecasts and recommended actions well ahead of approaching critical fire weather. The utility agency used this advanced predictive technology to create forecasts to reduce the potential for accidental wildfire ignitions in their territories.

“Big Data is playing a crucial role in weather forecasting and wildfire analysis. This advanced information is important because we cannot just look outside for the weather,” said Alex Lesser, executive vice president at PSSC Labs. “With improved technology and the ability to process large amounts of data comes better extreme weather forecasts, which can save lives.”

How HPC, Big Data and AI Impact Weather Modeling and Wildfire Analysis

Weather models require specialized computing platforms that allow parallel computations. The closer the model horizontal and vertical grid spacing, the more computational resources are needed. Timely dissemination of the high-impact forecast to stakeholders and the public also requires state-of-the-art computing hardware.  

PSSC Labs works with ADS to deliver cluster servers that are individually customized to meet the specific needs of each client. Key features of the PSSC Labs PowerWulf HPC Clusters include pre-configured and fully validated blocks with the latest Intel HPC technology and all the necessary hardware, network settings, and cluster management software prior to shipping.

Thanks to the processing power of PSSC Labs clusters, AI and Big Data can now play a key role in developing forecasting and wildfire analysis solutions that can prevent casualties. ADS uses AI to find relationships in data that can transcend the current understanding. For example, ADS uses AI to forecast damage to infrastructure during severe downslope windstorms that may occur during Santa Ana wind events.

“AI solutions are being built using multi-decadal historical atmospheric and land surface data at a close-enough grid spacing. This data allows for an intelligent historical ranking of a forecast which is one of the most valuable analytics ADS can provide a stakeholder,” said Dr. Scott Capps, Principal and Founder of ADS.   

“The solutions ADS are developing use a comprehensive blend of predictors that are important to large wildfire potential including dead fuel and live fuel moisture, near-surface atmospheric moisture and temperature, wind speed and gusts,” Dr. Capps, continues. “Our partnership with PSSC Labs provides us with the hardware platform to meet the demands of high performance computing in order to maximize accuracy and maximize the number of times models can be run daily.” 

According to Dr. Capps, the operational month-ahead and season-ahead Santa Ana wind forecasts are the first such solution.

For more information visit https://www.site-a.com/solutions/hpc-cluster/

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pssc-labs-and-atmospheric-data-solutions-deliver-hpc-clusters-to-forecast-weather-and-reduce-wildfire-ignitions-300588776.html?tc=eml_cleartim

Building an HPC Cluster for University Research

By marketing@site-a.com

Building a high performance computing cluster for research university purposes is no insignificant task. There is much to be considered when deciding how to build out the right university HPC cluster for your important work. But how do you weigh specific factors against each other and determine what to focus on?

5 Things to Consider when Building an HPC Cluster for University Research

  1. Determine the community that is going to utilize the resource.
    Is the resource going to be used by an individual? A research group with a number of users? A specific department? A campus wide system? This is important to note from the get-go, because the larger the network of the system, the more complex the conversations need to be in designing it. If multiple departments are going to be relying on the system, there will be several inputs to consider in determining which capabilities the system will require.
  2. Determine how you’re going to get funding for the cluster. 
    Is your university HPC system going to be funded by your university, NSF grants, start up packages, or something different? How will the resources be financed? This is significant in ensuring that the financier receives adequate resources in return.
  3. Begin to design your cluster based upon the two first steps while maintaining a keen focus on potential growth in the future.
    Keeping in mind potential future growth is critical to ensure that the purchased system will be useful 5 years down the road. For example, with a bandwidth limited network, other components added later may not provide anticipated performance improvements and will just bottleneck your work.
  4. Continue exploring new technologies.
    It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on new advancements in components that are coming to market. Next generation GPUs are developed regularly and tend to be a significant focus for research universities when building an HPC cluster. Advancements in parallel file systems are also important to identify because they allow universities an expandable storage system.
  5. Determine who will administer the cluster and be responsible for operation and maintenance.
    Will your university HPC cluster be managed by a dedicated resource? Will it be department personnel or even a student? You’ll want to make sure the person managing the system is well-versed in the technology and hardware. Student labor, while affordable and temporarily convenient, is not always the best option, as they may not have the necessary knowledge and need to be replaced when they leave the university.

As you can see, there is definitely a lot to consider when building out a cluster for research university purposes. That’s why it’s so important to pick the right vendor to partner with, one that will listen to what your needs are and create a system to match. PSSC Labs does just that, working closing with you throughout the entire process, ultimately delivering a production-ready system, regardless of time and budgetary constraints.

For more information on how we help research universities acquire the research instruments they need, visit us at: https://pssclabs.losangeles.dev.buckupstudio.com/industries/higher-education/

Snapshot Case Study: How a Leading Supersonic Jet Manufacturer Overcame Astronomical Cloud Computing Costs

By marketing@site-a.com

*For the purpose of anonymity, we’ll be referring to this customer as Company Supersonic.

Company Supersonic is a leading supersonic jet manufacturer in the United States, with an organizational focus on sustainable innovation and connectedness. With a desire to engineer the next evolution of sustainable travel, the client worked closely with PSSC Labs to acquire the necessary technology and HPC equipment to achieve this goal.

BUSINESS CHALLENGE: Reduce Cloud Computing Costs

Company Supersonic has relied on popular HPC providers for some time. When it came time for the expansion of their HPC resources, the client evaluated several options, including popular cloud HPC simulation providers. However, working with a limited budget and aggressive timelines, the client felt that deployment on the cloud would leave them handcuffed with no means of escaping the ever-increasing, sky high costs. The client determined that cloud computing didn’t make sense for an organization that was looking to grow and expand operations, as costs associated with expanding cloud usage would only hinder the venture-backed organization. This prompted key decision makers to research HPC computing alternatives, ultimately landing on the decision to purchase an on-premise HPC cluster.

As a venture-backed organization, Company Supersonic had a limited budget to work with and needed flexible payment options, so finding a vendor that was willing to work within their constraints was of the utmost importance. Fortunately, PSSC Labs was able to help by designing a fixed budget leasing agreement that allows the client to favorably manage their cash flow while seeking additional funding. As both the manufacturer and financing provider, PSSC Labs demonstrated strong financial standing and overwhelming willingness to work with its customers no matter the constraints.

In addition to an ability to offer flexible financing terms, PSSC Labs focuses on engaging with the client throughout the entire sales process. Listening and learning about the specific computing needs and requirements allows PSSC Labs to custom engineer HPC solutions that will satisfy today’s requirements and expand to meet tomorrow’s computing challenges. It was this level of engagement and an open line of communication that ultimately made PSSC Labs the right partner.

SOLUTION:  The PSSC Labs Approach

PSSC Labs is working closely with the IT department and data center provider to ensure a seamless delivery. The goal was to ease the deployment of the system as much as possible and get into production almost immediately, and that’s exactly what was done. With a tight timeframe, PSSC Labs turned around the entire cluster in just four weeks.

This is just one of the many examples of PSSC Labs helping design and engineering companies overcome common challenges. From budgetary and time constraints to a lack of internal IT resources, PSSC Labs is here to help clients save on computing costs and accomplish their business objectives.  

About PSSC Labs

For technology powered visionaries with a passion for challenging the status quo, PSSC Labs is the answer for hand-crafted HPC and Big Data computing solutions that deliver relentless performance with the absolute lowest total cost of ownership. We are true innovators offering high performance computing solutions to solve the world’s most demanding problems. For 25+ years, organizations of all sizes and from a variety of sectors rely on PSSC Labs’ computing systems. We are proud to support many departments within the United States government, Fortune 500 companies, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

All products are designed and built at the company’s headquarters in Lake Forest, California.

HPC Technology Strategies for Fighting COVID

By marketing@site-a.com

We’re amid unprecedented times — COVID-19 has forced government officials to shut down schools, businesses, and public areas across the world. Thousands upon thousands have fallen ill with hospital workers worrying about reaching maximum capacity and depleting supply inventory. The amount of infections are projected to rise substantially each day, marking no end in sight for this worldwide pandemic. 

Hospitals, health care organizations and research companies are working around the clock to find proper drug treatments and vaccines to combat the virus. With so much on the line, it’s imperative that our country’s leading care givers and researches have access to the best resources available to perform life saving research. The obvious resources are those needed at the front line including ventilators, N95 masks, masks, gloves, etc.  But the not so obvious resources are just as vitally important.  These including high performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence and big data platforms. Below are just a few of the many ways that advanced technology tools and HPC can be used in the fight against COVID-19.

3 Technologies Taking On COVID-19

  1. Modeling and Visualization.  The real fight against this killer virus will be won with data.  The need for real time analysis of extremely large data sets has never been greater.  Our ability to ingest, interpret and visualize data in order to see what is happening at both the microscopic and global levels can substantially flatten the curve which will ultimately lead to saving lives. Recently one of our clients presented a model of the infection and death rate in Hawaii.  His models were so accurate that he is predicting within 1% margin of error at this point.  Government agencies can use these extremely exact data models to prepare hospitals and care workers.  It can help ensue there are enough resources in place before things are out of control.  Better prediction models equals saved lives.
  2. Bioinformatics. In order to understand what we are fighting we must first be able to sequence the virus’ genome.  This is actually very simple to so since the field of genomics has been in place for nearly 15 years.  Using HPC platforms and bioinformatics tools, research organizations have begun extensive sequencing of COVID-19. Being able to accurately identify the viral genome enables researchers to understand how it has become so successful in attacking us and spreading across the globe. Understanding the virus itself is imperative to discovering how to defeat it. Scientist can see where the virus bonds to the host cells and replicates.  If we are able to disrupt the bonding and replication then we have a fighting chance to defeat COVID-19.
  3. Computational Chemistry.  Organizations working on drug treatment are likely utilizing computational chemistry — a branch of chemistry that uses computer simulations to solve chemical problems. With this type of work, organizations can test the effects of specific drug or drug combinations on the virus in an effort to identify which drugs render the virus useless or ineffective. If the virus is prevented from attaching to a host or from replicating, researchers would catapult closer to an effective vaccine. 

Our world is in the fight of a lifetime — something no one has seen or lived through before. It’s more important than ever that hospitals, health care agencies and life science organizations of all sizes are able to do the work they need to do to protect and save lives. PSSC Labs is proud to support many organizations working to defeat COVID-19.  For these researchers having immediate access to the on-premise platforms they need can not be overstated. While other companies wait for cloud resources to become available, organizations that made the right decision to invest in their own technology platforms will lead us to the cure.

5 Key Considerations When Building the Perfect HPC Cluster for Weather Modeling

By marketing@site-a.com

Constructing an HPC Cluster for weather modeling requires expertise and loads of preparation. It’s important to know both the scale and scope of the workloads to be performed before beginning to build out any HPC Cluster platform. It’s also important to note which specific weather modeling applications will be utilized. With WRF being one of the most popular and widely used applications in the weather modeling industry, we’ve been able to develop years of experience and expertise building WRF specific HPC Clusters.

WRF is extremely powerful and requires significant computing resources to operate efficiently. As a result, organizations looking to utilize WRF see the most success when deployed in an on premise environment.  This is especially true when the volume of the runs, required resolutions and sizes of the models are significant. Running the same WRF models using cloud resources instead of on premise HPC Clusters would cost anywhere from 300% to 500% more — without the guarantee of answers in a timely manner.

With so many things to consider and weigh when building an HPC Cluster for WRF, we outlined the five most important factors to keep front of mind to help.

5 Things to Consider when Building an HPC Cluster for WRF

  1. Determine the Number of Processor Cores Required. This step is usually easier for those who have experience running WRF on an existing HPC cluster, but if that’s not you, no need to worry. Instead, try to determine the complexity of the models, resolution required and number of runs per day/week/month/year. By doing so, you should be able to determine with some degree of certainty the size of the HPC Cluster.It’s also important to select the right processor manufacturer and model during this step. A good rule of thumb to follow is to select a processor that offers higher clock speeds, (i.e. above 2.4GHz), and worry less about the highest number of cores per processor. This will help ensure you are not degrading performance by exceeding the system’s memory bandwidth capabilities. At PSSC Labs, we have primarily used Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors to date, but we’re starting to see more and more interest in AMD EPYC TM processors, due to lower cost and the potential for higher clock speeds. Our initial performance results when comparing the two different types of processors do not provide a clear cut winner. One more important note is that using the Intel® Cluster Studio XE Compiler Suite can provide a huge performance improvement; tipping the scales in the Intel® Xeon® processor favor if you are on the fence choosing between the two processors.
  2. Select the Amount of Memory per Core. At the absolute bare minimum, we recommend 2 GB memory per core, though we don’t deliver many HPC Cluster systems with less than 4GB memory per core. Going higher, say to 8 GB, would likely be overkill. Keep in mind that this step of the process is really about configuring the memory for maximum memory bandwidth, as memory access will have a huge impact on the overall cluster performance. With WRF, it’s all about moving data in and out of the processors as quickly as possible, and memory bandwidth has a tremendous impact on performance.
  3. Build the Fastest Possible Network Backplane Your Budget Allows. This step should be front of mind for larger clusters (i.e. several thousand cores). As stated in the above step, getting the data to the processor as fast as possible is critical and having the highest speed network backplane for an HPC Cluster significantly helps in this effort. We typically employ Intel® Omni-Path and Mellanox® InfiniBand® when building HPC Clusters for WRF. With NVIDIA’s Mellanox’s latest 200 Gb/sec HDR Infiniband® backplane, Mellanox has taken the lead over Intel® Omnipath® which tops out at 100 Gb/sec. Mellanox does offer a cost effective 40 port 200 Gb/sec HDR Top of Rack switch, which is becoming more and more of a standard for our HPC Clusters.
  4. Consider Using a Parallel File System to Increase Performance and Offer Scalability. We’ve worked with several parallel file systems, including HDFS, GlusterFS and LusterFS. Each of these has their own pluses and minuses but they all offer a significant improvement over a standard NAS or NFS storage server. With a parallel file system, you’re essentially spreading the load of data access across multiple storage nodes and targets. Our Parallux Storage Clusters have achieved over 50 GB/sec sustained Read / Writes. This represents a huge improvement over stand-alone NAS servers that max out around 2.5 GB/sec. Faster access to data means reduced computing times because you’re better able to keep the processors maxed out with data access.
  5. Build with the Future in Mind. Like most HPC applications, WRF can consume all the computing resources you can throw at it and still keep asking for more. We always allow room in our HPC Clusters to double or triple the number of processor cores over time. Adding nodes to an existing HPC Cluster is not complicated. Using simple tools, like Clonezilla, will allow you to keep expanding your cluster as needs grow and your budget allows.

Building an HPC cluster for WRF doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially when working with the an experienced and knowledgeable HPC Cluster manufacturer. PSSC Labs has 25+ years of experience working closely with clients to determine their needs and architect a custom HPC Cluster. For more information please visit https://pssclabs.losangeles.dev.buckupstudio.com/solutions/weather-modeling.

For questions regarding our HPC Clusters for WRF and other weathers models, please feel free to contact us at 4sales@site-a.com or (949) 380-7288.

High Performance Computing 101: Funding Your HPC Through Technology Grants

By marketing@site-a.com

While the current economic environment can be a time of great uncertainty, it has proven to also be a time of significant opportunity for those seeking grants to help fund a variety of technology solutions, especially High Performance Computing / HPC  solutions.  Despite some budget cuts, the National Institutes of Health received a $2.6 billion or 7 percent increase in fiscal year 2020 from FY 2019.  Budget increases are also taking place in other  technology-focused market segments such as education and medical research.

Researchers are well aware that much of the groundbreaking research facilitated by HPC is made possible only through grant funding programs offered by NIH and other institutions that have just received increased funding.  Should cuts ultimately materialize, researchers can expect increased competition for funding in what is already a very competitive grant-funding process.  One of the most well-known funding programs for acquiring HPC resources, the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant, already sees only 1 out of 5 applicants receive funding.

For those organizations that focus on or utilize High Performance Computing infrastructure as a critical component to their research, the current atmosphere for funding has elevated the need to implement best practices when applying for financial grants and understanding the full range of funding channels that are available.  For example, those applying for Major Research Instrumentation / MRI grants through the National Science Foundation can significantly increase their chances of receiving funding by focusing upon the following seven core elements of grant success.

Seven Keys To A Successful MRI Grant Proposal

  1. Understand the Source.  If you are applying for a grant from the National Science Foundation, it is critical that you focus on understanding what is important to the NSF, its current research goals and objectives, and how these could intersect with high performance computing.  To get started visit https://www.nsf.gov/funding/preparing/
  2. Find HPC Funding Opportunities. While there are numerous HPC funding sources and your PSSC Labs team can help you with this process, you will want to review the National Science Foundation’s “Find Funding” resources:  https://www.nsf.gov/funding/index.jsp
  3. Get Specific.  When developing your grant proposal make sure that you clearly define your HPC computing needs. Also, know that your PSSC Labs team can work with you to clearly and effectively communicate your needs with all the details that the funding source is expecting.  It is critical that you show that you will have a support team from the very start of your project through to completion.
  4. Be Prepared. Cost-Sharing is Key.  According to NSF, “…the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-69), cost-sharing of precisely 30% of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement and cannot include it.”  Learn more about cost sharing by clicking here and also remember that the PSSC Labs Team can help you explore the practical realities of the MRI HPC grant proposal requirements including cost-sharing.
  5. Focus on Benefits.  Communicate the full potential impact and the practical benefits of your research and the role of high performance computing.  The PSSC Labs team can work with you to provide research-backed insights into HPC performance data that can be critical to your grant proposal.  PSSC also will work with you to demonstrate that you understand the HPC Cluster and the impact your Cluster will have on the research proposal.
  6. Build the Need.  Talk to your data center and HPC team members as well as others in your area/market/industry to gather and build insights that will be a critical part of your proposal.  You may also want to explore other successful MRI grants to learn what has been funded and how this could intersect with your research.  Learn more.
  7. Share the Vision.  Articulate the full impact of the research that will be made possible by the grant as well as the impact your research will have on your community and those whom you serve.  You can also explore the MRI Map of Recent Awards for additional inspiration for your HPC project.

PSSC Labs has a 25+ year record working with grant winners to help secure grant funding from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and many more grant-giving organizations.  Our experience deploying turnkey HPC Clusters for computational chemistry, weather modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and biomedical informatics applications has helped us find specific and less known grants for scientists that are applicable to their research based on their field of study, parties affected by their research, and many other criteria.

If you are a researcher looking to acquire computing resources, reach out to PSSC Labs, and we will help you find grant programs that are applicable to your specific research. From the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation grant, to the National Institutes of Health’s S10 grant, our 25+ year background working with leading research universities has given us an intimate understanding of the funding channels that are available and the application strategies you should employ.

Whether or not funding is ultimately increased or decreased to these grant giving institutions, it never hurts to explore all available funding channels.  Talk to us about your research, and let PSSC Labs help you maximize your chances for securing funding.