Award Abstract # 2324748
Collaborative Research: GEO OSE Track 1: Transforming Volcanology towards Open Science in the Cloud with VICTOR

NSF Org: RISE
Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER)
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Initial Amendment Date: August 20, 2023
Latest Amendment Date: August 20, 2023
Award Number: 2324748
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Raleigh Martin
ramartin@nsf.gov
 (703)292-7199
RISE
 Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER)
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: September 1, 2023
End Date: August 31, 2025 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $97,209.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $97,209.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2023 = $97,209.00
History of Investigator:
  • Sylvain Charbonnier (Principal Investigator)
    sylvain@usf.edu
  • Charles Connor (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of South Florida
4202 E FOWLER AVE
TAMPA
FL  US  33620-5800
(813)974-2897
Sponsor Congressional District: 15
Primary Place of Performance: University of South Florida
4202 E FOWLER AVE
TAMPA
FL  US  33620-9951
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
15
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): NKAZLXLL7Z91
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): GEO CI - GEO Cyberinfrastrctre
Primary Program Source: 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):
Program Element Code(s): 243Y00
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

This project continues the development and expansion of Project VICTOR, the Volcanology Infrastructure for Computational Tools and Resources, which provides a novel cyberinfrastructure serving the volcanology community. The volcanology community is transforming into a computer-savvy, data-driven, quantitative discipline that requires a matching cyberinfrastructure. Specifically, VICTOR provides a platform for executing numerical simulations of volcanic processes, including lava flows, ash, tephra dispersal, and pyroclastic density currents. During the preceding pilot phase, the VICTOR platform was initiated and a preliminary set of codes and workflows was developed. The new project will expand upon VICTOR capabilities by collaborating with model and database developers in the community to connect these tools to the platform. The central purpose of VICTOR is to catalyze the volcanology modeling community to advance model quality and access and promote model literacy and overall collaboration. Thus, this project will put special emphasis on education and training. The project will take a multi-faceted approach that combines: (1) inclusion and integration of community software codes, (2) workshops, (3) educator training and teaching modules for undergraduate and graduate level classes, and (4) establishment of a community governance structure and effective communication channels.

VICTOR is based on a JupyterHub platform, and access is through a central web portal. All components are based in the cloud, to allow for demand-based resource management, workflow portability, and reproducibility, and to offer access to high-performance computing to a broader community. The project will develop computational workflows that use new capabilities and libraries of models to simplify model verification, validation, and benchmarking and streamline access to required external datasets such as topography and environmental conditions using public Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Workflows will utilize modern computing tools such as Jupyter Notebooks, minimizing the time-intensive steps of locating, installing, running, and testing models. Workflows will enable standardization of model inputs and outputs, facilitating studies of linked- and multi-hazard scenarios. The reproducibility and reliability of the modeling process will be enhanced through capabilities to save, re-run, edit, and test workflows. Ultimately, the combination of open-access models, data science tools, and the provisioned low-barrier access to computing resources will increase usability by the community and accelerate the transition to a culture of open science.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

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