Data Analytics Research Core

The Data Analytics Research Core (DARC) provides high-performance computing (HPC) in a secure environment for health data. This helps researchers to meet the privacy and security requirements of health information custodians, thus enabling appropriate access to health data for research.

DARC provides:

  • High performance computing with multiple machines with over 3.8 TB RAM and 440 logical processors, including one GPU server with 8 x Tesla V100 GPUs and two new servers.
  • Secure research data storage with over 20 TB available for local server storage. The cost per terabyte of secure, redundant storage is $60/year. 
  • Secure data transfer with encryption and all data going in and out of the DARC environment monitored.
  • Infrastructure within multiple secure data centers in MedIT, UPS battery backup and chilled water-cooling systems. 
  • SAS Viya 3.5 which is an AI, analytic and data management platform
    • Includes capabilities in statistical, visual analytics, predictive modeling, machine learning and much more
    • Faster processing for huge amounts of data
    • Standardized code base for programming in SAS and other languages (e.g. Python and R)
    • Provides a secure, scalable multi-user environment for concurrent data access
  • Other research software available includes: R/Rstudio, STATA, Python and FACTS
  • Machine learning platforms include TensorFlow, Keras, Caffe and CUDA, that are provided in the Lambda Labs GPU server.

DARC is supported by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry along with funding from the Alberta Health Services Chair in Health Informatics Research held by Dr. Lawrence Richer.

To request to use the DARC, please complete this questionnaire.

Contact Information

For further information about DARC contact vdradmin@ualberta.ca.

Additional Resources

Information Services & Technology (IST) provides digital research grant support.