Sydney, Australia — SAP Australia & New Zealand today announced it will provide the University of Queensland (UQ) with a one terabyte (1TB) SAP HANA in-memory database platform to drive a specific research and development (R&D) project, analysing complex data problems associated with moving objects analytics. The partnership has been made possible through a $450,000 grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC). SAP will supplement this ARC grant with cash funding of $210,000 to the University of Queensland.
The project, entitled ‘In-memory moving objects analytics for real-time business applications’ will develop a novel computing foundation based on in-memory technologies, addressing significant challenges of big data and location-based business intelligence including fleet management solutions using GPS devices, smart-phone applications utilising on-board sensors and intelligent transportation systems.
The joint UQ and SAP proposal received the most funding from the eighteen IT-related successful submissions to ARC from all over Australia. This funding puts the university in a position to recruit a number of post doctorate and PhD students to contribute to the project over the next three years.
The SAP HANA platform provided by SAP will enable UQ researchers to use cutting edge, in-memory computing technology for conducting research experiments, providing a rich environment for research students and staff. The 1TB in-memory platform will allow exploitation of large data sets, leading to a deeper understanding on the potential of real time analytical computations. This research will lead to dramatic reductions in operational cost, increase safety and enhance fleet productivity as well as offer specialised and targeted services to customers who can carry out real-time what-if analysis to find and book the best services for specific transportation needs.
Due to the increasing variety, velocity and scale of data generated from moving objects, traditional computing technologies are lagging behind the growing business needs for real-time data analysis. This project aims to build a new technical foundation, utilizing in-memory technologies for efficiently analysing big mobile data.
Dr. Wasim Sadiq, Vice President, Strategic Customer Engagement, Products & Innovation at SAP, said, “The deployment of the 1TB SAP HANA platform to support this joint project with the University of Queensland is a strong testament to the capabilities of our technology, as well as affirming SAP’s commitment to R&D in Australia.”
“SAP understands that scientists and researchers are looking for the veritable data ‘needle in a haystack’. We are excited to house the SAP HANA platform at the university, providing the technology which enables the level of computing power required to successfully drive a research program of this kind,” Wasim added.
“The SAP HANA technology will provide our researchers with the computing power they need in order to analyse their large experimental datasets,” commented Prof. Xiaofang Zhou, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Queensland.
“We’re pleased to provide the time of our associated academics as well as our latest facilities as part of our commitment to the project,” Prof. Xiaofang Zhou added.
The grant was awarded as part of the linkage project scheme, ARC’s premier and highly competitive national program, for research-industry partnerships. The scheme aims to initiate and develop long-term strategic research alliances between higher education institutions and enterprise organisations, including end-users.
For more information on the ARC Linkage projects which have been awarded funding, please visit http://www.arc.gov.au/media/releases/media_28June2013.htm
About SAP
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Ellen Sinclair +61 419 126 767 ellen@howorth.com.au
