ISA buys IBM technology

Bentley-based information technology company ISA Technologies has become the first organisation in the southern hemisphere to use revolutionary new IBM Cell chip technology for high performance computing and visualisation.

ISA Technologies purchased the system to respond more rapidly to its client's needs, predominantly those in Australia's booming resource sector.

Resources companies typically require intensive visualisation capabilities for seismic modelling in activities such as searching for new oil and gas reservoirs.

ISA's oil and gas clients have included Woodside and Chevron.

The technology will also be used to develop new technology applications in animation and engineering.

"There are a lot of processors for high performance computing available, but the demands for visualisation are very heavy and can slow even the fastest processor down," ISA managing director Sil La Puma said.

ISA's purchase of the technology will also enable it to expand its reach into the health, engineering services, digital media and defence sectors, which all rely on high performance computing.

ISA Technologies is based at Technology Park in Bentley and has 20 years' experience in delivering services to commercial, government and research organisations across a range of technology areas.

ISA Technologies' HPC facility claims to be one of the largest facilities in Australia operating on a commercial basis to support 'supercomputing on-demand' to a range of industries and has invested over $5 million in HPC and visualisation facilities.

ISA Technologies has used its supercomputers to support film and industrial animation for which the new IBM systems can improve the processing speed.

In March, Landgate and ISA Technologies partnered to develop a 3D demonstrator application which will display Landgate's statutory information, such as strata titles, in a new and innovative way.

"Western Australia is a large state with a relatively concentrated, small population," Mr La Puma said.

"It is ideally suited to the development of 3D visual solutions and services that support new ways of accessing land information''

ISA Technologies is in discussions with universities on how the new IBM technology can be leveraged by research teams to meet their research requirements.