Applying grid techniques to an octree-based CSCW framework

Many simulation tasks are intended as a mere stand-alone application. Hence, integrating them into some embedding framework often fails due to missing interfaces for data and information interchange. Furthermore, keeping track of consistency among all embedded tasks and participating experts can be very difficult and, thus, a lot of effort has to be invested. Within our approach, an octree-based CSCW framework for processes arising in civil engineering both provides appropriate interfaces for process integration and assures global consistency in a distributed cooperative working environment. To some extent, by completely embedding simulation tasks into this framework, a so-called problem solving environment has been established. To foster parallel processing and to further exploit the inherent hierarchy of this approach, grid techniques seem perfectly suited to adopt the full potential of distributed and parallel computing. This not only allows us to tackle large scenarios such as ensembles of buildings, it also gives us the advantage of sophisticated level-of-detail studies without busting capacities of the underlying hardware ressources.