CSIRO launches software suite for scientists

The CSIRO has launched new software designed to help scientists and researchers analyse, model and visualise scientific data sets.

The free Workspace software suite promises major efficiency savings for researchers from all fields working with complex data sets, according Dr John Taylor from CSIRO Digital Productivity Flagship.

“In institutions all around the world, researchers operate within similar workflows; sourcing data, analysing it, processing it - often using high-performance computing environments,” he said.

“Very often, this involves a number of manual repetitive steps. “Workspace makes these steps easy to automate. In one application, analysis that had previously taken two weeks to conduct manually was carried out in less than an hour.”

The CSIRO has already used the software to model and visualise simulations for storm surges and flash flooding, to assist with disaster management planning. Another team worked with the AIS to produce a 3D biomechanical computer model of different swimming strokes.

Researchers at the ANU, Macquarie University, UNSW and University College London have all also used the software.

Taylor said Workspace also makes it easier for scientists to publish the outcome of their research, and the software does not require any software or programming expertise.

“If others can easily grasp what your science means, this opens it up to brand new audiences,” Taylor said. “This not only helps researchers engage with the public, but it also allows them to reach out to other collaborators in the science community and industry.”

Image courtesy of the CSIRO