Analyzing Massive Streaming Heterogeneous Data: Towards a New Computing Model for Computational Sustainability

Introduction

Today we are witnessing advances in technology that are changing dramatically the way we live, work and interact with the physical environment. New revolutionary technologies are creating an explosion on the size and variety of information that is becoming available. Such technologies include the development and widespread adoption of networks of small and inexpensive embedded sensors that are being used to instrument the environment at an unprecedented scale. In addition, the last few years have brought forward the widespread adoption of social networking applications. Another trend with significant ramifications is the massive adoption of smartphones in the market. The rise of the social networking applications and the always-on functionality of the smartphones are driving the rise of a part of the web that is dedicated to recording, maintaining and sharing rapidly changing data which has been termed the Live Web.