Dell EMC is working with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) to build a scientific computing system to ensure CSIRO’s capability in artificial intelligence.
Besides artificial intelligence, the new system provides capability for research in areas such as virtual screening for therapeutic treatments, traffic and logistics optimization, modelling of new material structures and compositions, machine learning for image recognition and pattern analysis.
Following CSIRO’s tenders in November 2016 to build the new system with a $4 million budget, Dell EMC installed the new system in five days across May and June 2017. Dell EMC said the new system began production in early July 2017.
Data61’s Computer Vision group, led by Associate Professor Nick Barnes, will be one of the first research teams to benefit from the new processing power. Nick Barnes’ team develops the software for a bionic vision solution that aims to restore sight for those with profound vision loss, through new computer vision processing.
The Bracewell system is built on Dell EMC’s PowerEdge platform, with partner technology including GPUs for computation and InfiniBand networking, which pieces all the compute nodes together in a low latency and high bandwidth solution faster than traditional networking.
“Our system removes the complexity from the installation, management and use of artificial intelligence frameworks, and has enabled CSIRO to speed up its time to results for scientific outcomes, which will in turn boost Australia’s competitiveness,” said Andrew Underwood, Dell EMC ANZ High Performance Computing Lead.
CSIRO deputy CIO Angus Macoustra said: “The system will double the aggregate computational power available to CSIRO researchers, and will help transform the way we do scientific research and development.”
