LADE
An infrastructure to extract knowledge from data.
At Area Science Park, our state-of-the-art research infrastructure is dedicated to advanced computing and data analysis services. Thanks to specialised skills, researchers use advanced technologies for the processing of big data: from artificial intelligence techniques to FAIR-bydesign data production.
Main research topics
Our laboratory carries out research and development activities in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Data Management to extract knowledge and value from scientific data. For example, LADE manages and analyses data produced in the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory (LAGE) and in the Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME).
Storage and data processing are entrusted to ORFEO, a datacentre that manages and analyses scientific data in an open source approach.
The Data centre - ORFEO
ORFEO (Open Research Facility for Epigenomics and Other) is a modern data centre housed in a container that provides advanced computing and data analysis services. The system can deliver millions of computing hours per year. It boasts high flexibility and reconfigurability: alongside the computing servers, an infrastructure is present that enables cloud delivery of HPC/AI services.
Additionally, the data centre contributes to the processing of data produced by the Open Labs for Life Sciences and Innovative Materials.
Technical characteristics of ORFEO
The container housing the data centre is connected via redundant 10 Gbit fibre to the Area Science Park and Lighnet networks, providing fast and efficient connectivity with the entire regional and national research network.
The infrastructure, fully redundant in all its components, offers a range of high-memory computing nodes (up to 1.5TB of RAM per server) and the latest generation processors (up to 128 cores distributed over two sockets). Some servers are equipped with dual V100 GPU cards with 32GB of RAM, and there are 2 DGX systems equipped with a total of 16 A100 cards with 40GB of RAM each.
The total storage capacity exceeds 5 PB of raw space and is provided to users through a CEPH parallel file system, which includes both high-speed partitions based on NVME and SSD technology, and standard partitions based on HDD. The long-term storage partition is over 3 Petabytes in size. Additionally, there is tape-based storage with two read heads.
Explore the lines and research activities of Area Science Park
Access the archive of articles and studies published by Area Science Park researchers
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