CANFAR OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVE

To develop an operational system that enables the effective delivery, processing, storage, analysis and distribution of very large datasets produced by astronomical surveys.

The CANFAR platform leverages CANARIE’s high-speed network and cloud computing technologies (in which dynamically scalable and virtual resources are provided as a service over the Internet). CANFAR provides a ‘survey-agnostic’ cloud environment that allows astronomers to effectively process the massive amounts of data generated by highly sophisticated and complex observatories using their own custom software.

This capability is expected to facilitate improved scientifc collaboration, increase the potential for exciting space discoveries, and advance Canada’s strong position in astronomical research.

VALUE

The ability to efficiently gather, transfer, process, and share data is the key to astronomical discovery. The CANFAR system aims to:

• Allow astronomers to process the ever increasing dataflow from astronomical surveys using a wide variety of custom software
• Facilitate increased collaboration among scientists and virtual organizations that conduct astronomical surveys
• Significantly expand the resources available to astronomers, and provide access to the new information that improves our understanding of the Universe

IMPLEMENTATION

CANFAR exploits the capabilities of the powerful CANARIE Network, the compute and storage resources of Compute Canada, and the expertise of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council of Canada (HIA-NRC). It leverages customized virtual compute and storage clouds, providing astronomers with access to many datasets and resources previously constrained to their local hardware environment. To ensure all Canadian astronomers continue to benefit from CANFAR and the growing collection of astronomical data, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre of the HIA-NRC, in partnership with CANARIE and Compute Canada, has made a long-term commitment to support its continued operation.

PARTNERS

• Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC) of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, National Research Council of Canada
• University of British Columbia
• CANARIE

ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND IMPACT

CANFAR will provide astronomers with novel and more immediate, hands-on and interactive ways to process and share very large amounts of data emerging from space exploration. It will help to facilitate increased scientific collaboration that promises to significantly advance our knowledge of the Universe.

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