Bulk synchronous parallel algorithms for the external memory model

Abstract. Blockwise access to data is a central theme in the design of efficient ex-ternal memory (EM) algorithms. A second important issue, when more than one disk is present, is fully parallel disk I/O. In this paper we present a simple, deterministic simulation technique which transforms certain Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) algorithms into efficient parallel EM algorithms. It optimizes blockwise data access and parallel disk I/O and, at the same time, utilizes multiple processors connected via a communication network or shared memory. We obtain new improved paral-lel EM algorithms for a large number of problems including sorting, permutation, matrix transpose, several geometric and GIS problems including three-dimensional convex hulls (two-dimensional Voronoi diagrams), and various graph problems. We show that certain parallel algorithms known for the BSP model can be used to ob-tain EM algorithms that meet well known I/O complexity lower bounds for various problems, including sorting