Open-Source Tool Tracks Data's Global Journey

UVic researchers develop a way to label massive data transfers without slowing them down

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Researchers at the University of Victoria have developed an open-source tool that can label massive scientific data transfers without slowing down the process. The tool, called SciTags, was able to mark data being transferred at a rate of 1.15 terabits per second, the equivalent of streaming over 66,000 high-definition movies at once. This breakthrough could help research networks like BCNET and CANARIE better monitor and optimize data movement for international projects.

Why it matters

As scientific research generates increasingly large amounts of data from sensitive detectors and instruments, the ability to quickly and efficiently transfer that data globally has become critical. This new tool provides a way to label the data in real-time without impacting transfer speeds, giving researchers and network providers better visibility and control over the movement of valuable research data around the world.

The details

The open-source SciTags tool was developed by Tristan Sullivan, a high-energy physicist at the University of Victoria. It allows researchers to add metadata tags to identify the owner, purpose, and other details about the data being transferred. In a recent test, UVic researchers were able to send labeled data at 1.15 terabits per second to a conference in St. Louis, Missouri, demonstrating that the labeling process did not slow down the transfer.

  • In November 2025, UVic researchers sent labeled data at 1.15 terabits per second to the International SuperComputing Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The players

Tristan Sullivan

A high-energy physicist at the University of Victoria who developed the open-source SciTags tool.

Randall Sobie

A research scientist at the Institute of Particle Physics who says scientists have developed new methods and infrastructure to transfer vast quantities of data more quickly.

Ryan Enge

The director of Research Computing Services at the University of Victoria, who explains how the packet marking technology can help monitor and manage data transfers for international research projects.

BCNET

A high-speed regional connectivity network that provides services to the research community.

CANARIE

Canada's national ultra-high-speed network that connects researchers across the country to global networks.

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What they’re saying

“The packet marking being able to keep up with the data moving at 1.15 terabits per second was an important part of the demonstration. It opens the door to real-time visibility, measurement and optimization of large-scale scientific data movement.”

— Tristan Sullivan, high-energy physicist

“We have Quality of Service agreements with international projects like those at CERN and the Square Kilometre Array. If we guarantee some minimum bandwidth for those projects, packet marking will let us monitor it and make sure each partner is receiving its share.”

— Ryan Enge, director of Research Computing Services

“The markers can help us manage our data, monitor it and make better use of networks and storage.”

— Randall Sobie, research scientist

What’s next

The success of the 1.15 terabit per second data transfer demonstration opens the door for wider adoption of the SciTags tool by research networks and international collaborations to improve the management and optimization of large-scale scientific data movements.

The takeaway

This new open-source tool developed at the University of Victoria provides a way to label massive scientific data transfers in real-time without slowing down the process, a breakthrough that could significantly improve the ability of researchers and global networks to monitor, manage and optimize the movement of critical research data around the world.