
Geoscience application challenges to computing infrastructures 13
degrees of productive efciency (Dillon et al. 2010). Cloud computing
converges from the multiple computing technologies of hardware virtu-
alization, service-oriented architecture, and utility computing, as will be
detailed in Chapter3.
Cloud computing frees consumers from purchasing their own computing
hardware, software, and maintenance, and provides the following sum-
marized features:
• Computing and infrastructure resources and applications are pro-
vided in a service manner.
• Services are offered by providers to customers in a pay-per-use fashion.
• Virtualization of computing ...