Modeling a Conceptual Framework for secure Research Collaboration in Engineering and Technology

This work modelled a Cloud Computing based Research Collaboration Platform (CRCM) for Engineering and Technology. It features automatic real-time network data acquisition from virtual infrastructures. The platform was designed based on Software as a Service cloud computing model. The integration of the process architecture of the CRCM with the backend server was exploited and the feasibility of an adaptive queuing scheme for CRCM service efficiency in a typical cloud scenario using Simevent tool was done. The system has the following features: Content Management System (CMS), Document and File Sharing (DFS), Real Time Chatting (RTC), data acquisition from virtual infrastructures, online research library, research tracking and information management system. The system security is based on modified 2-MD 5 cryptographic algorithm. The performance evaluation of the proposed system was carried out considering other existing collaboration systems in the context of service efficiency and modulated queuing scenario. It competed favourably well with similar systems with a very low page response, very good system security, capability of access to remote equipments, and intellectual property protection. It is a solution to the following engineering research problems: research duplication, poor collaboration, poor funding/ wastage of the available funds, inadequate infrastructure, serious brain drain and poor awareness creation.