CENTER FOR COMPUTATION & TECHNOLOGY

By Steve Clark Business Report Louisiana has embarked on an exciting technological journey. Through the ongoing implementation of the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI) and membership in the National LambdaRail (NLR), Louisiana has taken a giant step forward in collaborative university research and Grid Computing technology. This bold step has far-reaching implications - not just for university research, but also for our state's long-term economic competitiveness in the new knowledge-based economy. LONI, a high-speed fiber-optic computing network and the first of its kind in the nation, will link the main-frame computers at Louisiana research universities across the state, exponentially increasing these institutions' collaborative data-processing capability. This network will greatly enhance important collaborative research already going on at our universities, and it will open the door for new research efforts not possible before. Moreover, by virtue of the National LambdaRail node that will be located in Baton Rouge, LONI researchers will be connected to computers at many of the most prestigious research institutions and technology-oriented companies in the nation. NLR is a consortium of leading U.S. research universities and private-sector technology companies deploying a nationwide networking infrastructure to support research in science, engineering, health care, and education, as well as the research and development of new internet technologies, protocols, applications and services. The NLR's projected 10,000-mile infrastructure route was not originally scheduled to pass through Louisiana until the state committed the resources. When completed, it will initially provide four separate10 gigabit per second wavelengths with provision to add another 28 to 36 wavelengths as needed to support members' research collaborations. The benefits that LONI and NLR will ultimately provide for our state are virtually limitless. So to ensure that our ambitious plans become a working reality, I have pledged $40 million over the next decade to build and maintain the network. I am committed to moving our state forward by creating educational and economic opportunities for all of our citizens, and by investing in these exciting, new technologies, Louisiana can do just that. LONI and NLR will put Louisiana on the cutting edge of modern research. These tools will prepare us to meet the demands of the coming century and help us address future academic challenges. On this network, information will travel at revolutionary speeds, and given that the craft of research thrives on finding, exploring, and most importantly, sharing knowledge, Louisiana will be well positioned to attract more of the kinds of researchers, research projects and federal research dollars that separate good universities from nationally-competitive research powerhouses. And the benefits don't stop with stronger universities and better-equipped researchers. Just as the NLR came together as the result of public-private partnerships around the country, Louisiana will use these new computing resources to further both private sector and academic research. Today, there are ongoing public-private partnerships that will directly benefit from Louisiana's LONI/NLR connection. Researchers examining medical devices and nanotechnologies can test ideas more quickly. Louisiana's environmental scientists can model coastal erosion and watersheds more accurately. Energy interests, working with our university researchers, can develop better applications to discover and produce oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico. The long-term impact of this investment on our academic and technological infrastructures cannot be overstated. Through these efforts, we will distinguish Louisiana as a major player in high-performance computing and network technology. More importantly, we will be able to secure gains in academic, social and economic development that will help ensure a brighter future for all of Louisiana's citizens. For more information on LONI, contact Kevin Hardy of the Louisiana Board of Regents at (225) 342-4253. The above article reflects the opinions of the author and not necessarily the policies of the National Governors Association.