On the use of cloud computing for geospatial workflow applications

Abstract

The Cloud is considered to be an important platform for the execution of scientific applications such as scientific workflows. Effective plan and management are desired in complex spatial analysis and decision applications. Geospatial workflow provides a scientific solution to manage such geospatial processes; it can define geospatial processes precisely to solve particular spatial-referenced issues in GIS applications. In this paper we explore the use of cloud computing for geospatial workflow applications, focusing on a well-known geospatial application - Weights of Evidence Method Metallogenic Prediction. We propose the architecture of geospatial workflow applications in the Cloud as well as across Clouds, elaborate each of the components of the framework, including how the application could be deployed in a cloud environment, along with structure changes, useful tools and services. Finally we discuss the challenges of deploying and executing geospatial workflows in cloud environment and whether the widely used scientific workflow management system is able to support Sky computing by executing a single geospatial workflow across multiple Cloud infrastructures at the same time.