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Materials Algorithms Project (MAP), Part II

Introduction

The Materials Algorithms Project (MAP) website, which was started in February 1997 as a centre for the "validation" and distribution of algorithms of use in the modelling of materials, has been developed and expanded. It originally distributed only software written in FORTRAN. This has now been extended to include software written in any standard programming language or programs provided only as executable files. Two new libraries along with many new programs and subroutines have been added to the website, to over 190 programs or routines and 24 materials data-sets. A search engine has now been made available for use on the website, providing the user with the facility either to make a general search of the web pages, or to carry out a more specific search of the keywords which describe the purpose of the software. Maintainance of the website has been semi-automated, with shell script programs making regular updates of the access statistics (daily) and the compressed tar file of the entire library (weekly). Rationalization of the file system on the website, and the formation of standard template files and folders for the creation of new libraries and web-pages will greatly facilitate further expansion of the MAP libraries. A mirror site in North America, courtesy of QuesTek Innovations LLC., has now been fully established. Despite its presence, access statistics show that the usage of the MAP website has doubled, both in number of users and in number of requests since the start of this project in February 1999, reaching over 20,000 requests for webpages and 2200 distinct hosts served worldwide during the month of November 1999.

The MAP software has been accessible to the outside world since February 17th 1997. Some 29,000 files have been accessed within the first nine months since February; 10\%\ of these interactions have involved the downloading of FORTRAN source code and documentation. The remaining operations involve a scanning of the site to identify and reach the source code which is to be downloaded. With the exception of large parts of Africa and China, almost every country in the world has now downloaded data from the MAP site. The first mirror site has just been established in the U.S.A. at Northwestern University. The users include educational, commercial, governmental and military domains. The statistics and the impressive contents of the library, covering many aspects of materials science, can only be appreciated fully from the MAP site on Materials Algorithms Project

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Achievements

1. Provides open access to algorithms for modelling materials.
2. Makes published work more accessible.
3. Removes need for duplication of effort.
4. Provides a modular library to permit the construction of new models or integration into specific software.
5. Provides complete programs, example data and experimental data.
6. Provides a mechanism for the publication of documented software.
7. Creates a lively community of people interested in the creation or use of models in the context of materials science and technology.

Assessment

The work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom. The results of the project have been assessed by EPSRC referees as follows:

1. Scientific & Technological Merit: Highly significant contribution to the field.
2. Management and use of resources: Excellent