Abstract

KUMAR, SUJAY, VIJAYA. Vitri - A Generic Framework for Engineering Decision
Support Systems on Heterogeneous Computer Networks. (Under the direction of Dr. John
W. Baugh)

Vitri is an object-oriented framework implemented in Java for high-performance distributed
computing. Using Vitri, applications can engage in cooperative problem solving by dividing
their tasks among heterogeneous clusters of workstations and PCs. Vitri’s features include
basic support for distributed computing and communication, as well as visual tools for
evaluating run-time performance, and modules for heuristic optimization. It balances loads
dynamically using a client-side task pool, allows the addition or removal of servers during a
run, and provides fault tolerance transparently for servers and networks. Among its more
powerful features are modules for heuristic optimization and decision support tools such
as modeling to generate alternatives (MGA). Vitri also provides an asynchronous globalparallel
genetic algorithm that is particularly suited for coarse-grained tasks executing on
processors with large variations in processor speeds. By using dataflow techniques, in which
computations are explicitly based on the availability and forwarding of data, the usual endof-
generation synchronization points are removed from the algorithm. The tools in Vitri
are applied to a number of different applications from the civil engineering domain. The
results indicate the adaptability of Vitri to various problems and its utility as a tool for
managing engineering decision support systems.