Argonne, DOT open transportation research, computing center
Computer simulations of traffic jams, stresses on infrastructure, vehicle
crash tests possible
(Download printer-friendly, PDF version.)
ARGONNE, Ill. (March 25, 2008) — The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne
National Laboratory, in cooperation with the U.S. Department
of Transportation's
(DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration, has announced the
opening of the Transportation Research and
Analysis Computing Center (TRACC)
in suburban Chicago.
The new, state-of-the-art modeling, simulation and high-performance computing
center will tackle a host of intractable transportation problems, including
traffic congestion in major cities, the effects of stresses on transportation
infrastructure and the crashworthiness of vehicles.
TRACC is located at the DuPage
National Technology Park, co-located with the
DuPage Airport Authority in West Chicago, Ill., and hosts a dedicated new high-performance
computing system intended to deliver substantial computing power to address
these and other transportation problems via simulations.
Simulations will allow researchers to study vehicle performance issues like
aerodynamic drag, fuel-injector spray dynamics and under-the-hood thermal management,
as well as road weather research.
"These areas that we're starting with are just a few specific examples
of how you could utilize our computing resources," said David Weber, TRACC
Project Director. "Our modeling, simulation, visualization and high-performance
computing capabilities will provide unique collaboration opportunities with
colleagues in the transportation field from government, academia and private
industry. We all benefit from this advanced modeling capability."
With respect to their use in traffic modeling, TRACC simulations will closely
resemble actual road conditions, Weber expects. TRACC's models could allow
transportation system planners and emergency planning specialists to develop
alternative and contingency plans in advance, according to Weber.
"If you lose part of your transportation network in an emergency, for
example, what do you do?" Weber said. "How do you get the people
out in the most efficient way? We think we'll be able to predict congestion
patterns as they actually occur for both normal traffic and emergency traffic
conditions."
Although TRACC models currently encompass only the Chicago area, they could
easily be adapted for any metropolitan region.
The models that TRACC will generate have the potential to save lives on both
the individual and community scales by allowing engineers to better understand
crash behaviors and use that knowledge to enhance roadside safety structures.
For example, while DOT and the vehicle industry currently perform computerized
crash simulations in addition to their expensive real-world crash tests, TRACC
technology will significantly increase the speed and accuracy with which these
tests can be executed.
"We take prototypic experiments," Weber said, "and confirm
that we can model them accurately to validate the simulation methodology. Then
we can use the computer models to extend them to a larger range of accident
conditions and examine system and component performance at higher levels of
fidelity with our large-scale computing resources."
TRACC also has initial funding to perform modeling of bridge hydraulic behavior,
such as the flooding of bridges during severe weather. By seeing how bridges
respond to stress from high winds and rising water, civil engineers might be
able to prevent damage to the structures during severe storms or hurricanes.
"Tests are very expensive and can only look at a limited number of conditions," Weber
said. "TRACC provides a more cost-efficient way to look at a lot of different
types of transportation issues and understand the effects in greater detail."
At the heart of TRACC lies a 128-node, 512-core dedicated massively parallel
computer. This high-performance computing system is complemented by state-of-the-art
software and expert staff. Remote access to the computing system will be available,
both through Argonne National Laboratory, as well as at Argonne's university
partners, the University
of Illinois and Northern
Illinois University.
"This new facility will further enhance the DuPage National Technology
Park's standing as a leader of high-tech services," said Dupage
County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom. "With each addition to the Tech
Park, we are discovering that their high-tech possibilities are endless, and
I look forward to working with everyone involved in this exciting endeavor."
For more information on TRACC, please visit www.tracc.anl.gov.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed
by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
|