Case Study: Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) achieves life‑saving COVID‑19 modeling and reduced death rates with Dell Technologies

University of Texas at Austin researchers run epidemiological models using high performance computing powered by Dell Technologies

Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at the University of Texas at Austin faced the urgent challenge of rapidly modeling COVID-19’s spread and impacts to guide governments, healthcare systems and the public. To run large-scale epidemiological simulations and analyze sparse, fast-moving data, the UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium relied on Dell Technologies’ high-performance computing (HPC) solutions—powering the Frontera supercomputer—to deliver the compute capacity needed for time‑sensitive modeling.

Using Dell Technologies’ standardized HPC hardware, TACC ran millions of simulations and a dozen-plus epidemiological models, analyzed anonymized smartphone movement data, and published public dashboards and a five-level alert system used by local and federal decision makers. The results informed policy, boosted public trust in science and helped save lives—Austin’s COVID-19 death rate dropped to less than half the statewide average—demonstrating Dell Technologies’ role in enabling life‑saving, data‑driven pandemic response.

Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)

Melyssa Fratkin

Industrial Programs Director