GEM's Model Facility (GEM-MF) undertakes the development of the GEM’s risk assessment platform OpenGEM, and the OpenQuake calculation software that will power the platform. The Model Facility supports integration of the hazard risk and socio-economic impact tools and data, and enables and all modelling developments related to the mission of GEM.
The Model Facility is a collaborative effort, in which a number of institutions/organisations participate, with as focal points ETH Zürich and the GEM Secretariat.
The main tasks of the GEM-MF are:
- Lead the development of OpenQuake as an open-source software application for seismic hazard and risk calculations at any scale, which includes tools for model developers (modellers’ toolkit);
- Manage a dedicated computing infrastructure as well as access to distributed computing facilities to provide the capability to compute, analyse and communicate global harmonised hazard, risk and socio-economic impact estimates;
- Develop the OpenGEM web-based platform for accessing the engine, tools, (Open)GEM data, models and GEM authoritative results, and after 2013 provide access to and maintain OpenGEM;
- Support model building and database development activities of Regional Programmes and Global Components;
- Support interaction between the Model Facility, Executive Committee, Secretariat, its contributors and user community.
Open (Source) Development
Open Source Development has a number of requirements which go beyond the simple release of source code, and have the advantage of improving community engagement, providing free labour, and ultimately leading to better software:
- Release of source code with an open source license;
- Use of a public code repository where code changes can be viewed by “outsiders”, that can track the code development, provide bug patches etc.;
- An open process of discussion (through open mailing lists, an IRC channel);
- A policy for open, consensus-based, decision-making.
OpenQuake and other components of the OpenGEM suite are being developed following all such practices.
Experience has proved that software is best developed iteratively, adjusting features as one moves along and through experimentation; and that is the approach that is adopted by the Model Facility. This approach, called Agile Development caters for readily tuning of requirements and priorities during (code) development. A number of online tools are being used to support the collaborative but distributed effort, such as Launchpad, GitHub, Etherpad and IRC channels.
The Model Facility provides the architecture and manages the development (blueprints, sprints), that external collaborators can follow. Scientific direction for development is provided by GEM’s Executive Committee in coordination with GEM's Scientific Board and relevant TAP (Technical Advisory Pool) advisory / working groups.
Model Facility Team
There are a number of persons from around the world comprising the MF team. Domenico Giardini [MF Coordinator], Florian Haslinger [MF Manager] and John Tarter [IT Manager] coordinate the efforts of the Model Facility; the latter are part of GEM's Executive Committee. The developers currently working in the GEM-MF are: Lars Butler, Andrea Cerisara, Anton Gritsay, Muharem Hrnjadovic, Marco Milanesi, Giuseppe Vallarelli and Ben Wyss. Damiano Monelli, Vitor Silva and Graeme Weatherill are the scientists working at the GEM-MF. They collaborate closely with GEM's Executive Committee Hazard and Risk coordinators (Helen Crowley and Marco Pagani).
