Case studyCase studyAfrica@homeAfrica@home

Prof. Christian R. PellegriniProf. Christian R. Pellegriniwith:with:

François Grey / CERNFrançois Grey / CERNBen Segal / CERNBen Segal / CERN

Asia@home workshop, Academia Sinica,Asia@home workshop, Academia Sinica,16-17 April 2009, Taiwan16-17 April 2009, Taiwan

OverviewOverview Prehistory of Africa@homePrehistory of Africa@home What is Africa@home?What is Africa@home? Africa@home first phaseAfrica@home first phase Malariacontrol.netMalariacontrol.net Volunteer thinkingVolunteer thinking Africa@home second phaseAfrica@home second phase AfricaMapAfricaMap

Prehistory of Africa@homePrehistory of Africa@home Spin-off of fundamental research at CERNSpin-off of fundamental research at CERN Related to technologies developed for the LHC Related to technologies developed for the LHC

particle acceleratorparticle accelerator SixtrackSixtrack a program to study the beam stability a program to study the beam stability

was well suited to volunteer computingwas well suited to volunteer computing LHC@home a volunteer computing application for LHC@home a volunteer computing application for

the 50the 50thth anniversary of CERN anniversary of CERN Big success: 6'000 users after one weekBig success: 6'000 users after one week

From particle physics to malariaFrom particle physics to malaria After CERN's involvement in WSIS in Geneva After CERN's involvement in WSIS in Geneva

(2003) outreach project for WSIS in Tunis (2005)(2003) outreach project for WSIS in Tunis (2005) Goal: present a practical implementation of Goal: present a practical implementation of

volunteer computing for Africavolunteer computing for Africa The idea of The idea of Africa@homeAfrica@home was born was born Which suitable application ???Which suitable application ???

Porting of STI's Porting of STI's MalariaControlMalariaControl epidemiological epidemiological simulation program to volunteer computing simulation program to volunteer computing environment.environment.

Dealing with the digital divideDealing with the digital divide Huge potential for volunteer computing to contribute to Huge potential for volunteer computing to contribute to

solving pressing health and environmental issues facing solving pressing health and environmental issues facing the developing world.the developing world.

Africa@home provides a common framework for Africa@home provides a common framework for volunteer computing projects that address African volunteer computing projects that address African needs.needs.

An important goal of Africa@home is to involve African An important goal of Africa@home is to involve African students, scientists and institutions in the development students, scientists and institutions in the development and running of these volunteer computing projects.and running of these volunteer computing projects.

What is Africa@homeWhat is Africa@home

A shell to host computational modelsA shell to host computational models Action-oriented, interdisciplinary projectAction-oriented, interdisciplinary project Broaden the epidemiological studies of diseases (HIV/AIDS, Broaden the epidemiological studies of diseases (HIV/AIDS,

Malaria, TB, …)Malaria, TB, …) Combine large-scale simulations with real data from the field to Combine large-scale simulations with real data from the field to

improve modelsimprove models Novel partnership between academic institutions, international Novel partnership between academic institutions, international

organizations and NGOsorganizations and NGOs Hosting of volunteer computing projects in AfricaHosting of volunteer computing projects in Africa Empower African universitiesEmpower African universities Join International ResearchJoin International Research Involve African universities in the development processInvolve African universities in the development process

Africa@home

Africa@home: first phaseAfrica@home: first phase Porting of MalariaControl to BOINC platformPorting of MalariaControl to BOINC platform Project team involves 3 students from Geneva, Bamako and YaoundéProject team involves 3 students from Geneva, Bamako and Yaoundé Funded by Geneva International Academic Network, hosted at CERNFunded by Geneva International Academic Network, hosted at CERN Port took 3 months, beta-test February 2006, open to public July 2006Port took 3 months, beta-test February 2006, open to public July 2006 Server at University of GenevaServer at University of Geneva

MalariaControl.netMalariaControl.net

MalariaControl.net statisticsMalariaControl.net statistics VolunteersVolunteers: 25’000 total, 10’000 : 25’000 total, 10’000

activeactive Sign up rate: up to 400 new users Sign up rate: up to 400 new users

per day per day Currently no new usersCurrently no new users Host PCsHost PCs: 15,000 active,: 15,000 active, 85% Windows, 15% Linux, Mac85% Windows, 15% Linux, Mac

CPU power: 10CPU power: 10 TeraFLOPS TeraFLOPS equivalent to 3,000 CPU years/yr equivalent to 3,000 CPU years/yr

(midrange PCs)(midrange PCs) delivered to date 10,000 CPU years delivered to date 10,000 CPU years

(Oct 08)(Oct 08) Simulations per day:Simulations per day: 75,000 75,000 ……+ huge public/press interest!+ huge public/press interest!

Impact in Africa

Africa@home: second phaseAfrica@home: second phase Named Named "Volunteer Computing for Africa""Volunteer Computing for Africa" Continue to involve African scientists and institutions Continue to involve African scientists and institutions in hosting, in hosting,

porting and developing volunteer computing projects for African porting and developing volunteer computing projects for African humanitarian needs.humanitarian needs.

Africa@home workshopAfrica@home workshop More than 50 African scientists from 20 countries More than 50 African scientists from 20 countries

Africa@home new applicationsAfrica@home new applications STDSIM with Erasmus Medical Centre, RotterdamSTDSIM with Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam HIVMM with SACEMA, South AfricaHIVMM with SACEMA, South Africa ””Autodock4” with the WISDOM collaborationAutodock4” with the WISDOM collaboration ””AfricaMap” with UNOSATAfricaMap” with UNOSAT

Africa@home serversAfrica@home servers: Uni. Cape Town, Uni. Geneva: Uni. Cape Town, Uni. Geneva WHOWHO is an official partner is an official partner

Africa@home workshopAfrica@home workshop Workshop at AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical Workshop at AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical

Sciences), Muisenberg-Cape Town, 16-22 July, 2007.Sciences), Muisenberg-Cape Town, 16-22 July, 2007.

Africa@home & WISDOM collaborationAfrica@home & WISDOM collaboration AimAim: deploying WISDOM : deploying WISDOM Autodock4 Autodock4 software as a volunteer software as a volunteer

computing application managed by Africa@homecomputing application managed by Africa@home Accelerating research against a malaria targetAccelerating research against a malaria target Increasing IT knowledge in AfricaIncreasing IT knowledge in Africa Preparing a joint deployment on a volunteer computing grid and a grid Preparing a joint deployment on a volunteer computing grid and a grid

infrastructureinfrastructure

PartnersPartners:: Africa@homeAfrica@home: CERN, ICV, Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi (Kwame Nkrumah University : CERN, ICV, Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi (Kwame Nkrumah University

of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana) and Eloi Appora-Gnékindy of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana) and Eloi Appora-Gnékindy (University of Bangui, Central African Republic)(University of Bangui, Central African Republic)

WISDOM consortiumWISDOM consortium: HealthGrid, CNRS, University of Modena, : HealthGrid, CNRS, University of Modena, Mahidol Mahidol University (Thailand)University (Thailand)

Contact with the ThaiGrid infrastructure for deploying WISDOM Contact with the ThaiGrid infrastructure for deploying WISDOM on the same targeton the same target

Contact with WHO and World Community Grid (IBM)Contact with WHO and World Community Grid (IBM)

Volunteer thinking: future trend in VCVolunteer thinking: future trend in VC Distributed Distributed thinkingthinking vs. distributed vs. distributed computingcomputing

Example:Example: Stardust@home Stardust@home Jan 2006: Stardust spacecraft returns interstellar dust particles to EarthJan 2006: Stardust spacecraft returns interstellar dust particles to Earth

The microscopic particles are embedded in a piece of aerogelThe microscopic particles are embedded in a piece of aerogelMicroscope images of aerogel distributed to hundreds of volunteers using BOINCMicroscope images of aerogel distributed to hundreds of volunteers using BOINCVolunteers download a ‘virtual microscope’, learn how to find particlesVolunteers download a ‘virtual microscope’, learn how to find particlesOnly about 45 particles in whole aerogel = 45 ants on football fieldOnly about 45 particles in whole aerogel = 45 ants on football fieldVolunteers who find particles will become co-authors of scientific papersVolunteers who find particles will become co-authors of scientific papers

BOSSABOSSA

BOSSA is a new platform developed by the BOINC BOSSA is a new platform developed by the BOINC team led by David Anderson at SSL, Berkeley.team led by David Anderson at SSL, Berkeley.

It supports volunteer computing applications It supports volunteer computing applications involving personal intervention by the volunteer.involving personal intervention by the volunteer.

The The AfricaMapAfricaMap application runs on BOSSA application runs on BOSSA

AfricaMapAfricaMapcartography from satellite imagescartography from satellite images

Project partner: Project partner: UNOSATUNOSAT Goal: Implement a distributed Goal: Implement a distributed

framework for satellite image framework for satellite image annotation.annotation.

UNOSAT is a United Nations programme created to provide the international community and developing countries with enhanced access to satellite imagery and Geographic Information System (GIS) services. These tools are used mainly in humanitarian relief, disaster prevention and post crisis reconstruction

AfricaMapAfricaMapan up to date geodatabasean up to date geodatabase

Volunteers identify roads, bridges, rivers, human Volunteers identify roads, bridges, rivers, human settlements, cultures and geo featuressettlements, cultures and geo features

Servers in UCT and UniGEServers in UCT and UniGE

AfricaMap statusAfricaMap status DesignDesign: BOINC server to distribute compressed : BOINC server to distribute compressed

images to clientsimages to clients client applications either Java Scriptclient applications either Java Script or BOINC client applicationsor BOINC client applications

Project StatusProject Status:: Phase 1 about to finish: Phase 1 about to finish: porting the image compressor to a Desktop Grid at porting the image compressor to a Desktop Grid at

UNOSATUNOSAT

Who are the volunteers?Who are the volunteers?

Africa@home partnersAfrica@home partnersCore PartnersCore PartnersEuropean Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)International Conference Volunteers (ICV)International Conference Volunteers (ICV)Informaticiens sans Frontières (ISF)Informaticiens sans Frontières (ISF)Swiss Tropical Institute (STI)Swiss Tropical Institute (STI)University of Geneva, Computer Science Dept.University of Geneva, Computer Science Dept.World Health Organization (WHO)World Health Organization (WHO)

Associated PartnersAssociated PartnersAgence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)Erasmus University Medical Center, The NetherlandsErasmus University Medical Center, The NetherlandsSACEMA, Stellenbosch University, South AfricaSACEMA, Stellenbosch University, South AfricaAfrican Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Muisenberg, South AfricaAfrican Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Muisenberg, South AfricaUniversity of Bamako, MaliUniversity of Bamako, MaliUniversity of Dakar, SenegalUniversity of Dakar, SenegalUniversity of Yaoundé, CameroonUniversity of Yaoundé, CameroonUN Operational Satellite Applications, UNOSATUN Operational Satellite Applications, UNOSAT

SponsorSponsorGeneva International Academic Network (GIAN)Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN)

Media coverageMedia coverage Africa@home received a large media coverage:Africa@home received a large media coverage:

Vos ordinateurs peuvent aider la lutte contre la malaria, Vos ordinateurs peuvent aider la lutte contre la malaria, Le Monde Le Monde Tapping computer power to fight malaria, Tapping computer power to fight malaria, SwissinfoSwissinfo Fight malaria with your home computer, Fight malaria with your home computer, New ScientistNew Scientist Donating computing power to fight malaria, Donating computing power to fight malaria, Cordis Cordis (EU News)(EU News) Volunteer computing to study malaria’s spread, SVolunteer computing to study malaria’s spread, SciDev.NetciDev.Net Votre ordinateur peut aider la recherche sur le paludisme, Votre ordinateur peut aider la recherche sur le paludisme, Le ProgrèsLe Progrès Fighting malaria with computers, Fighting malaria with computers, Daily India.comDaily India.com Fight Against Malaria in Africa: Put your computer to work, Fight Against Malaria in Africa: Put your computer to work, Medical News TodayMedical News Today CERN’s Africa@home asks people to volunteer their computers to battle malaria in Africa, CERN’s Africa@home asks people to volunteer their computers to battle malaria in Africa,

Science SpectrumScience Spectrum Africa@home, Africa@home, BBC News Digital PlanetBBC News Digital Planet Wanted: computers for a humanitarian cause, Wanted: computers for a humanitarian cause, NatureNature Coming down to Earth: Linking up computers to defeat malaria, Coming down to Earth: Linking up computers to defeat malaria, The EconomistThe Economist CERN launches Africa@home Project, CERN launches Africa@home Project, GridTodayGridToday Fighting Malaria in Africa From Your Home Computer, Fighting Malaria in Africa From Your Home Computer, Voice of AmericaVoice of America Malaria Battlers Enlist Power of Your PC, Malaria Battlers Enlist Power of Your PC, National GeographicNational Geographic

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Africa@home is a team effort and the following Africa@home is a team effort and the following

persons deserve acknowledgements:persons deserve acknowledgements:

François Grey, Ben Segal, Nicolas Maire,François Grey, Ben Segal, Nicolas Maire,Christian Stroestrup, Jacques Fontignie,Christian Stroestrup, Jacques Fontignie,

Ranaivo Razakanirina, Bakary Sagara,Ranaivo Razakanirina, Bakary Sagara,William Kandel, Silvano de Genaro, Viola Kreps,William Kandel, Silvano de Genaro, Viola Kreps,Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi , Eloi Appora-Gnékindy Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi , Eloi Appora-Gnékindy

“The road to development starts with digging the foundations of Science and building a competitive

infrastructure for Research”

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention.attention.