Six Department of Agriculture research centers will be connected through a high-speed network intended to help Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists better collaborate and offer stronger, networked computing power for big data projects.
The private network will link six ARS facilities to each other, as well as with academic and other research centers worldwide. The ARS Science Network is being developed by USDA with the help of Internet2, a group of research institutions dedicated to advancing innovation using collaborative technologies.
“As a world leader in the science of agriculture, ARS’s research, technology and data needs are vast,” said Rob Vietzke, vice president of network services at Internet2. “Their new Internet2 membership will help continue their important work supporting the American agricultural economy through research and development.”
The high-speed network — operating at 10 or 100 gigabits per second, depending on location — will let facilities share large databases, collaborate on research in real-time and combine the overall computing power. The network will also be scalable over time, allowing the ARS to add more of its 90 centers and 2,100 researchers to the Science Network.
“Through our high-performance computing centers and land-grant universities, USDA-ARS will see a significant benefit from connecting to the unprecedented speed and capability of the Internet2 Network,” said Doreen Ware, ARS acting scientific information officer, who is leading the project. “Our involvement in Internet2 enables ARS to address its big data needs that contribute to solving agricultural challenges of high national priority.”
The ARS Science Network will begin at six research facilities, spread across the nation:
■ Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville, Md.
■ Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, Miss.
■ Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Neb.
■ National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa
■ Natural Resources Research Center, Fort Collins, Colo.
■ Western Region Research Center, Albany, Calif.
