Systematic mapping study identifies key environmental impacts of high-performance computing, suggesting major gaps.
Key Points
The study aims to chart the environmental impacts associated with high-performance computing and identify research gaps.
Conducted a systematic mapping study of literature on environmental impacts of high-performance computing.
Searched databases including IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Scopus; screened 4812 records, finalizing on 62 reports after deduplication and manual review.
Developed a four-facet classification for organizing impacts, lifecycle stages, systems, and management approaches.
Carbon emissions were identified in 54 out of 62 reports, indicating high coverage.
Other impacts like materials and waste, and biodiversity received limited attention, with most studies focusing on single impacts.
Efficiency improvements have been offset by increasing demand, hindering absolute reductions in environmental impacts.