Keeping tabs on nature

When most countries confront difficulties surrounding the loss of biodiversity, global environmental changes, invasions of alien species and bioterrorism, they often find it useful to compare their own problems with those of other nations.

In Taiwan, the situation is no different.

The recent completion of the first ecology-grid system at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute's (TFRI) Fushan Research Station (福山分所) in Ilan County, makes it possible for Taiwan to contribute its ecological data to the international community. With this latest move, Taiwan can help ensure the future of its biodiversity and at the same time contribute to the increasing global debate on ecological issues.

By working with the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) under the National Science Council (NSC), results of research and observations carried out by ecologists at the 1,100-hectare research site can be made available to counterparts overseas by way of the eco-grid system.

Wei Yau-huei (魏耀揮), director general of NSC's department of life sciences, said that the establishment of the eco-grid system has made Taiwan a pioneer in both long-term ecological research and high-tech development.

The NSC-sponsored Taiwan Ecological Research Network (TERN) was established in 1992. The network includes council scientists who cooperate with universities and the TFRI. So far, the network has established five research sites -- northern Fushan, Yuanyang Lake, central Guan-daushi, Tatachia and Nanjen Mountain on Taiwan's southern tip.

"The cooperation between TERN and NCHC in establishing the eco-grid system demonstrates that Taiwan is willing to shoulder its responsibility for preserving biodiverstiy," TFRI director-general Yang Jeng-chuan (楊政川) said on Saturday at a press conference held in Fushan.

According to NCHC officials, increased network bandwidth, more powerful computers and the popularization of the Internet have driven an increasing demand for more high-tech solutions in sectors ranging from commercial enterprise to academic institutions and research organizations.

According to NCHC director Joe Juang (莊哲男), in Taiwan, grid technology has diverse practical applications, such as ecological research, healthcare services, disaster prevention and digital learning.

Grid computing, however, requires powerful, reliable, high performance systems and sophisticated software.

Connected to the Pacific Rim Applications & Grid Middleware Assembly (PRAGMA), a unique collaboration among Asian Pacific countries and supported by the US National Science Foundation, Taiwan's eco-grid system has become part of the first attempt to bring long-term ecological research to the international community.

Other webmasters involved include Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), the San Diego Supercomputer Center, US High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network and Japan National Agricultural Research Organization.

"The eco-grid system at Fushan enables researchers in Taiwan to do comparative studies between Fushan and other parts of the world," said Peter Arzberger, director of National Biomedical Computation Resource at University of California in San Diego.

For the grid to work, and to truly understand and then create a sustainable environment, a global approach will be needed, Arzberger said.