Publications

Y. Zhao, M. Wilde, I. Foster, J. Voeckler, T. Jordan, E. Quigg, and J. Dobson, "Grid Middleware Services for Virtual Data Discovery, Composition, and Integration," Preprint ANL/MCS-P1195-0904, September 2004. [pdf]

We describe the services, architecture, and application of the GriPhyN Virtual Data System, a suite of components and services that allow users to describe virtual data products in declarative terms, discover definitions and assemble workflows based on those definitions, and execute the resulting workflows on Grid resources. We show how these middleware-level services have been applied by specific communities to manage scientific data and workflows. In particular, we highlight and introduce Chiron, a portal facility that enables the interactive use of the virtual data system. Chiron has been used within the QuarkNet education project and as an online "educator" for virtual data applications. We also present applications from functional MRI-based neuroscience research.