RINGrid

To validate and make proposals for a standardised use of remote instrumentation in Computer Grids.

Coordinator - PSNC (Poland), GUP (Austria), GRNET (Greece), CLMC (Bulgaria), UNAM (México), CNIT (Italy), CLARA (Latin America), REUNA (Chile), RNP (Brazil), CNR/ISTI (Italy), UNIS (UK), TUI (Rumania).

The possibility of using scientific or industrial equipment independent of their physical location helps in the equality of opportunity for and unification of communities and subsequently opens new opportunities for industry, science and business. Furthermore, it has a very important political and strategic impact, as we head towards a more unified Europe.

The systematic identification of instruments and corresponding user communities, the definition of their requirements as well as careful analysis of the remote instrumentation synergy with next-generation high-speed communications networks and grid infrastructure will be the basis for the definition of recommendations for designing next-generation Remote Instrumentation Services.

During the defined period of 18 months, and with a total budget of 999.165 € (770.650 € funded by the European Commission) the RINGrid partners will intent to achieve the following objectives:

• Identification of instruments and user communities, definition of requirements.
• Synergy between remote instrumentation and next-generation high-speed communications networks and grid infrastructures.
• Trend analysis and recommendations for designing next-generation Remote Instrumentation Services.
• Promoting egalitarian access to European e-Infrastructure opportunities.
• Dissemination of project results to scientific and business groups of users.

The functional structure of RINGrid is draw by six Work Packages (WP), each one of them addresses different areas of the project:

• WP1: Management.
• WP2: Identification of instruments and user communities, definition of requirements.
• WP3: Evaluation and requirements for infrastructures.
• WP4: Future Emerging Trends and Recommendations
• WP5: Dissemination, standardization and cooperation with other projects.
• WP6: Prototype implementation and verification.

CLARA participates in RINGrid project through two of its members: RNP (Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa) -the Brazilian National Research and Education Network (NREN)- and REUNA (Red Universitaria Nacional) -the Chilean NREN.

RINGrid also aims to enhance scientific cooperation in European Union (EU) member states as well as with EU candidate countries and countries in Latin America, using the RedCLARA network infrastructure made possible by the EU's ALICE project.

In what is referred to the project development, REUNA and RNP, so CLARA, are part of the Work Packages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. This mean that they will have to work in the following tasks:

WP2: Definition of instruments, instrument owners and potential beneficiaries (end user) requirements. To perform this task REUNA and RNP must identify instruments and user communities, as well as requirements definitions in different areas. While RNP will focus in material science and astronomy, REUNA will center its attention in astronomy (mainly through AURA observatory), actual UCRAV remote instruments and other new instruments. REUNA and RNP will also endeavor to extend the impact of the project, by seeking to identify additional areas of application of the benefits of remote instrumentation, respectively within Chile and Brazil, through interaction with the national agencies for financing of scientific instrumentation in these two countries, and with the institutions benefited by this support.

WP 3: Identify the requirements for remote instrumentation on each aspect of the measurement scenario.

WP 4: Analysis of access and core network evolution with respect to remote instrumentation services. CLARA will give its support to analyze the impact of next generation networks and grid infrastructures' development in Latin-American countries.

WP 5: Dissemination and cooperation with other projects and standardization bodies.

WP 6: Prototype implementation and verification; the UCRAV remote instrumentation project will be setup in the RINGrid pilot infrastructure, in conjunction with other remote instrumentation tools/services that are currently operated by some of the RINGrid partners.