Supercomputers are a key technology for cutting-edge research and strengthen a nation’s competitiveness. Switzerland’s high-performance computing and networking (HPCN) strategy, which is coordinated by the ETH Board, sets the framework for a nationwide network of computers and scientists. Working together with partners in Ticino on behalf of the Swiss federal government, ETH Zurich is establishing a supercomputing centre for cost- and energy-efficient operation of future highperformance computing systems.
Computer-aided science and supercomputers are becoming increasingly important. Today, research groups’ expertise in utilising supercomputing plays a key role in determining their success in competitive science. High-performance computing (HPC) makes it possible to generate new solution models for highly complex phenomena which to date have been incalculable. Modelling and simulation nowadays enjoy the same scientific status as theory and experimentation. Experts the world over agree that high-performance computing is a key technology in determining any nation’s competitiveness, as supercomputer-generated simulations provide the support needed to reliably manage electrical power grids or model financial market behaviour, for example.
Optimally utilising the potential of the fastest computers
The computational power and processing speed of supercomputers have improved immensely thanks to technical innovations and the higher numbers of units computing in parallel. The fastest supercomputers in the United States execute over two quadrillion (1015) computing steps per second (i.e. 2 petaflops). Switzerland’s fastest computer – the “Monte Rosa“ at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) – achieves 211.51 teraflops, which translates into 211.51 trillion computing steps per second. The installation of a Swiss supercomputer in the petaflops performance class is planned for 2012.
There are two major technical challenges to achieving optimum utilisation of petaflops supercomputers. The first of these is to minimise the costs and energy consumption of the high-performance computing systems.
New models for more accurate seismic and cardiovascular diagnostics
The second major challenge is that computer architectures are undergoing such fundamental change that researchers require new software, numerical procedures and algorithms for petaflops-class systems if they wish to compute their highlycomplex simulations in just a few hours instead of having to wait months for the results.
Geoscientists for example still lack computer programmes capable of calculating earthquake development and seismic wave propagation within a reasonable timeframe and providing high-resolution simulation of such events. In a project entitled “Petaquake“, a research team at ETH Zurich is developing the petaflops algorithms needed to model the ground motions caused by earthquakes. This could improve seismic hazard mapping and safety assessments e.g. of sites of large-scale facilities.
Petaquake is a research project arising from the “HP2C” – Swiss Platform for High-Performance and High-Productivity Computing – initiative launched in 2009. The platform’s objective is to swiftly develop petaflops software and specialised algorithms through interdisciplinary collaboration between hardware manufacturers, computer scientists, mathematicians and other specialists, gearing these advancements to the specific needs of Swiss researchers. Project management is shared between ETH Zurich, the University of Lugano (USI) and EPFL. Participants include scientists from disciplines such as fluid and molecular dynamics, astronomy, medicine, climate research, biology and mathematics.
The creation of numerical procedures for simulation goes hand in hand with the further advancement of work on other scientific issues. For example, haemodynamics – i.e. blood flow – is a significant influencing factor in cardiovascular disease. To this day, the complex interactions of blood flow with vessel walls and tissues complicate and hamper simulation. As part of the “Cardiovascular” project, mathematicians at EPFL are working to develop algorithms for petaflops hardware with the aim of simulating the anatomical structure and physiological reaction of the human cardiovascular system in both healthy and sick condition, thereby laying the foundation for more accurate cardiovascular diagnostics.
A high-performance computing network benefiting all of Switzerland
The interdisciplinary HP2C network is receiving wide international acclaim. HP2C forms part of the Swiss National Strategic Plan for High Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN Strategy), decreed in 2009 by the Federal Council and Federal Parliament for implementation.
This HPCN strategy developed by the ETH Board on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) enables Switzerland to make a coordinated investment in a national supercomputer and to position CSCS as a service centre for Swiss research.
While CSCS is part of ETH Zurich and will be in charge of operating the petaflops-class computing systems from 2012 onwards, the supercomputer will be available to all Swiss universities and research institutes for research projects and to train the supercomputing specialists of the future. Furthermore, CSCS has established a service organisation to provide computing services on a not-for-profit basis to businesses and other third-party organisations.
To ensure cost- and energy-efficient operation of the petaflops supercomputer, ETH Zurich is building a new supercomputing centre in Lugano-Cornaredo, to be completed by 2012. This new facility forms the third pillar of the HPCN Strategy, and will meet Switzerland’s MINERGIE-ECO standard. Its lake water-based cooling system in particular is more environmentally compatible, energy-friendly and cost-efficient than conventional air-cooling.
The HPCN Strategy – a joint project of the Swiss federal government, the ETH Domain and the canton of Ticino
The national HPCN strategy has broad-based backing. The investment costs for the HPCN strategy amount to CHF 172.5 million. In 2009, the Federal Parliament approved an initial funding package of CHF 72 million. The approximately CHF 60 million earmarked for the petaflops supercomputer will be evenly distributed from 2012 to 2014. The canton of Ticino and the city of Lugano are not only contributing CHF 5 million in support of the supercomputing centre there, but also making the land for the facility available in a free land lease. The costs of operating the supercomputing centre will be borne by the ETH Domain and ETH Zurich.
