VLab framework addresses the needs of scientists and modelers facilitating the generation of knowledge for evidence-based decision-making processes required to address complex challenges at local, regional and global levels. For example, as part of the activities of international organizations like the United Nations (UN), or as defined by international agreements, several policy goals to be achieved in a defined timespan have been set. They include the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the objectives of the Sendai Framework on Disasters, the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The achievement of these policy goals can be evaluated in respect of specific policy targets. The assessment of targets, and the definition of possible actions towards their fulfillment require evidence-based decision-making at different levels.
Therefore, policy-makers are asking the scientific community to provide the necessary knowledge to enable an evidence-based decision-making process. To answer these questions, scientists need to manage heterogeneous resources including satellite data, in-situ data, services, analysis and modelling tools, processing algorithms, models/workflows and models results. VLab is a framework that implements all required orchestration functionalities to automate the technical tasks required to execute a model on different computing infrastructures, minimizing as much as possible the interoperability requirements for both model developers and users.
Through VLab, modelers can publish models developed in different programming languages and environments. Once a model is available on the VLab, users can request its execution and the framework can trigger its execution on a set of different computing platforms, including cloud platforms such as the European Open Science Cloud, the com mercial Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, and some Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS) platforms (e.g., CREODIAS, ONDA, or Sobloo).
Contact person: Mattia Santoro