Automatic Distribution of Rendering Workloads in a Grid Enabled Collaborative Visualization Environment

This paper presents a distributed, collaborative grid enabled visualization environment that supports automated resource discovery across heterogeneous machines. Our Resource-Aware Visualization Environment (RAVE) runs as a background process using Grid/Web services, enabling us to share resources with other users rather than commandeering an entire machine. RAVE supports a wide range of machines, from hand-held PDAs to high-end servers with large-scale stereo, tracked displays. The local display device may render all, some or none of the data set remotely, depending on its available resources. This enables scientists and engineers to collaborate from their desks, in the field or in front of specialised immersive displays. We present initial results of our implementation, showing how we distribute complete datasets across multiple machines as required, using a central data service to distribute data updates from collaborating users. We will demonstrate RAVE at SC2004, utilising available heterogeneous resources.