Our research group conducts experimental and theoretical studies of data layout organizations and algorithms that can provide suitable run-time performance and reliability for specific data storage applications and technology environments. The laboratory is directed by Professor Walter A. Burkhard .
Computation often entails massive heterogeneous data sets involving text, audio, and video streams.
Storage, access and analysis of such large data sets will be an ongoing challenge due to continuing increases in users demands as well as continuing changes in technology. Cost versus performance tradeoff studies will continue to be of interest as a larger fraction of the stored information is placed on-line. Application specific approaches are driving both research and development. Beyond the usual performance issues, the preservation of data in spite of eventual component failures is another key issue. As the size of the data sets increases, data loss can become an unavoidable reality.