Scientific Computing and Visualisation
Accelerating astronomy. Maximising the scientific return from data.
Modern astronomy is a petascale enterprise. High performance computing applications in astronomy are enabling complex simulations with many billions of particles, while the forthcoming generation of telescopes will collect data at rates in excess of terabytes per day. The immensity of the data demands new approaches and techniques to ensure that standard analysis tasks can be accomplished at all, let alone in reasonable time. Indeed, many of the basic techniques used to analyse, interpret, and explore data will be pushed beyond their breaking points. New approaches are required now, including harnessing novel technologies such as graphics processing units (GPUs) for massively parallel computation, in order to prepare for this large data paradigm shift.
Our research vision is to enhance and accelerate the process of discovery in astronomy through the adoption of novel e-technologies, with an emphasis on overcoming the data analysis and visualisation challenges posed by the impending petascale astronomy data era.
Of particular note are the group's contributions to advancements in:
three-dimensional visualisation: the process of turning data into computer-generated images, which can be explored interactively, and analyzed quantitatively;
adoption of advanced computing architectures: the application of new computing architectures, particularly GPUs, to accelerate simulation and analysis; and
novel e-technologies: the use of large-format tiled displays and gesture-based input devices to enhance presentation, exploration and comprehension of data, and the dissemination of interactive visualisations via 3D-PDF.
We have also transferred our approach to astronomy visualisation to explore and understand the three-dimensional structures of nano-scale surfaces.
S2PLOT visualisation of the 6dF Galaxy Survey. Data courtesy 6dF Team/AAO.
Credit: Swinburne
S2PLOT
Barnes, D.G., Fluke, C.J., Bourke, P.D., Parry, O.T. 2006, An Advanced, Three-Dimensional Plotting Library for Astronomy, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 23, 82 [link]
allskyVR
Fluke, C.J., Barnes, D.G., 2018, Immersive virtual reality experiences for all-sky data, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 35, 26 [link]
Encube
Vohl, D., Barnes, D.G., Fluke, C.J., Poudel, G., Georgiou-Karistianis, N., Hassan, A.H., Benovitski, Y., Wong, T.H., Kaluza, O., Nguyen, T., Bonnington, C.P., 2016, Large-scale comparative visualisation of sets of multidimensional data, PeerJ Computer Science, 2:e88 [link]
Shwirl
Vohl, D., Fluke, C.J., Barnes, D.G., Hassan, A.H., 2017, Real-time colouring and filtering with graphics shaders, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 471, 3323 [link]
GraphTIVA
Hassan, A.H., Fluke, C.J., Barnes, D.G., Kilborn, V.A., 2013, Tera-scale astronomical data analysis and visualization, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 429, 2442 [link]
GBKFIT
Bekiaris, G., Glazebrook, K., Fluke, C.J., Abraham, R., 2016, Kinematic modelling of disc galaxies using graphics processing units, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 455, 754 [link]
GPU-D
Thompson, A.C., Fluke, C.J., Barnes, D.G., Barsdell, B.R. 2010, Teraflop per second gravitational lensing ray-shooting using graphics processing units, New Astronomy, 15, 16 [link]
Hassan, A., Fluke, C.J., 2011, Scientific Visualization in Astronomy: Towards the Petascale Astronomy Era, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 28, 150 [link]
Fluke, C.J., Barnes, D.G., Barsdell, B.R., Hassan, A.H., 2011, Astrophysical Supercomputing with GPUs: Critical Decisions for Early Adopters, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 28, 15[link]
Barsdell, B.R., Barnes, D.G., Fluke, C.J., 2010, Analysing Astronomy Algorithms for GPUs and Beyond, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 408, 1936 [link]
Barnes, D.G., Fluke, C.J. 2008, Incorporating interactive 3-dimensional graphics in astronomy research papers, New Astronomy, 13, 599 [link] - Contains 3D-PDF Figure
Facillities and Resources
Virtual Reality Theatre
Swinburne Discovery Wall
OzSTAR Supercomputer
GERLUMPH
Maintained by: Chris Fluke (cfluke@swin.edu.au)