Collaboratories

Collaboratories are virtual centers in which researchers can perform research, interact with colleagues, access remote instrumentation and information in digital libraries, and share data and computational resources without regard to geographic location. The concept was born in the mid-1990s out of the Department of Energy's desire to accelerate its ability to meet its missions through advanced computing and communications technologies and the sharing of nationwide scientific resources.

The CRF led one of the first collaboratories, the Diesel Combustion Collaboratory (DCC). The goal of the DCC was to develop a more complete understanding of the diesel combustion process and to facilitate that effort through the use of collaborative tools and technologies by participants of the Diesel Combustion Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The collaboratory was active from 1997 to 2001.

Currently, the CRF is leading collaboratories focused on the study of particulate matter and chemical science (see below).

Name	Description	Participants
Collaboratory for Multi-scale Chemical Science	Uses advanced collaboration and metadata-based data management technologies in developing an open "knowledge grid" for multi-scale informatics' based chemistry research	Sandia, other government labs, universities
Particulate Matter Collaboratory	Goal is to develop, evaluate, and commercialize laser-based measurement systems for online exhaust emissions monitoring for engine development and roadside compliance testing	Sandia; National Research Council, Canada; Artium Technologies, Inc.