What is Open Grid Services Architecture

This chapter deals with the usage of grid technologies for nature-inspired algorithms and complex simulations. After shortly introducing the grid and its technological state of the art, some features are pointed out in order to set the boundaries of the applicability of such new technology to the matters of interest. Then two paragraphs show some possible usages of grid technologies. The first one introduces the master-worker paradigm as a conceptual and technological scheme that helps in solving issues related to dynamic optimisation via nature-inspired algorithms and in exploring the parameters space of complex simulations. The following paragraph concerns two other points: the possibility to distribute agents of agent-based simulations using multi-agent systems; and the boundaries, architectures, and advantages in distributing parts of complex simulations which are heavy from the computational point of view. The chapter, as a whole, acts as a guide presenting applicative ideas and tools to exploit grid technological solutions for the considered purposes.