Near-real-time satellite image processing: metacomputing in CC++

Metacomputing combines heterogeneous system elements in a seamless computing service. In this case study, we introduce the elements of metacomputing and describe an application for cloud detection and visualization of infrared and visible-light satellite images. The application processes the satellite images by using Compositional C++ (CC++)-a simple, yet powerful extension of C++-and its runtime system, Nexus, to integrate specialized resources, high-speed networks, parallel and distributed computing, and stereoscopic visualization in virtual reality (VR) displays