Parallel cellular automata for high performance computational simulation

Computational simulation is based on the use of highperformance computers for modeling and simulation of complex systems in science and engineering. According to this approach, a computer equipped with problem-solving software tools may represent a virtual laboratory where it is possible to build a model for a given problem and run it under different conditions. Parallel computers represent a class of computing architectures that might effectively support the computational simulation approach. In particular, parallel computers are well suited for implementing inherently parallel computing abstract models such as cellular automata. Cellular automata (CA) theory represents a powerful abstract tool for developing models of natural phenomena and it was one of the first parallel computing abstract models. With the rapid advances in computational resources during the 1980's, CA have become more and more used for computer simulation and modeling in several application areas. Recently, it has been shown that CA models can be effectively used both as a realistic approach to define abstract parallel machines and as-a programming methodology for computational science on parallel computers. This paper describes how the combination of the cellular automata models with parallel computing techniques and systems can be very fruitful in supporting the computational simulation approach.