VERA

In order to facilitate original research and to support scientist in using big data, the VERA Centre is making significant investments in information infrastructures, in particular:

  • Supporting the implementation and management of the Bloomberg Finance Lab (BFL);
  • Strengthening the Cluster for Computing (SCSCF) and implementing a brand-new High Performance Computing (HPC);
  • Designing and realizing the Laboratory of Experimental Economics (VERALabEx).

System for the Scientific Computing at Ca’ Foscari

The System for the Scientific Computing at Ca’ Foscari (SCSCF) is a set of processors and programs aimed at performing particularly demanding calculations in terms of computing power and storage of large amounts of data, with the goal of satisfying the reasearchers growing needs of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice.

The system, inaugurated in February 2014, was born from a collaboration between the Department of Economics and the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics and benefited from co-financing from the Ca' Foscari University. The European Center for Living Technologies has recently been added as a sponsor. They also provided documents from the Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems.

The cluster is composed of 7 computing nodes: the first 5 nodes present 4 CPUs with 8 cores 2.7 Ghz and 256 GB of RAM, the next added 4 CPUs with 10 cores 3.2 Ghz and 512 GB of RAM. A node for Big Data applications is also available.

For computing nodes, in total, 240 cores and 2.25 TB of RAM are included.

The Big Data resources are therefore a total of 20 cores and 128 GB of RAM.

Nodes connectivity for communication between processes (IPC), nodes and the NAS with user data (Storage) is provided by two independent networks, each with a dedicated 10 Gbit switch.


High Performance Computing

High Performance Computing (HPC) is a new calculation system, developed in cooperation with the Computer Services and Telecommunications Area (ASIT).
By taking advantage of the virtualization of the resources made available by the cluster, 13 virtual machines have been generated, 10 with Windows and 3 with Linux operating systems, to meet the needs of each research project, allowing to further optimize the hardware available.
Users who intend to get access or to book a virtual machine for their research projects can write an e-mail to centro.vera@unive.it.

Virtual machines available

Linux operating system

  • Vera 2 - 8: 64 cores - installed RAM 728 GB
  • Vera 2 - 9: 24 cores - installed RAM 256 GB
  • Vera 2 - 10: 40 cores - installed RAM 416 GB

Windows operating system

  • Vera 2 - 1: 40 cores - installed RAM 416 GB
  • Vera 2 - 2: 24 cores - installed RAM 256 GB
  • Vera 2 - 3: 24 cores - installed RAM 256 GB
  • Vera 2 - 4: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB
  • Vera 2 - 5: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB
  • Vera 2 - 6: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB
  • Vera 2 - 7: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB
  • Vera 2 - 11: 40 cores - installed RAM 416 GB
  • Vera 2 - 12: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB
  • Vera 2 - 13: 12 cores - installed RAM 128 GB

Software, licenses and databases

STATA

STATA CAMPUS is a fundamental software for the economic analysis and is used in most of the Department courses. STATA is now available under Campus licence to be used by faculty, researchers and students on their personal computers. Licences and further information are available in the own personal area. More information about the software is available on the STATA Moodle page.


NRG METRICS

NRG METRICS provides data on over 8000 companies from more than 46 countries. A big database that combines 6 different datasets and more than 30 variables: Corporate Governance, Ownership Structure, Directors and Officers, Family Firms, Compensation and Audit.

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a cloud-based software to create and share web maps. The software will give the possibility to build interactive maps for explaining and analysing data in the context of location, share maps with specific groups. Access is for faculty, researchers and Phd students.

European DataWarehouse

European DataWarehouse is the first securitisation repository in Europe to facilitate the collection, validation, and download of standardised loan-level data (LLD) for Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) and private whole loan portfolios. Developed, owned, and operated by the market, the platform serves to streamline risk assessment and improve transparency standards for European ABS deals.