Engineer Research and Development Center News

CRREL working to keep ‘people out of harm’s way’ by using drones to find and identify unexploded ordnance

Justin Campfield, public affairs specialist — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:07:00 GMT

A team of researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) and Dartmouth College is pioneering a new way to keep humans out of harm’s way by using drones to find and identify unexploded ordnance.

The ERDC Alumni Association awards scholarships to eleven 2026 high school graduates

Annette Kirklin, public affairs specialist — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:41:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Alumni Association recently announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarships. Eleven high-school graduates were recognized for their leadership, academic excellence, and promising futures in their respective fields of study.

From Apollo to Artemis: ERDC’s enduring role in space exploration

Kaley Webb, public affairs specialist — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:27:03 GMT

It has been more than 50 years since Neil Armstrong famously declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” as he became the first man to step onto the surface of the Moon. Since then, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has helped enable the next generation of space exploration.

ERDC, LEMA Power the Fight During FLEX 2026

Sarah Clark, public affairs specialist — Tue, 19 May 2026 17:00:47 GMT

As unmanned surface vessels carved through the waters off Key West, Florida, and autonomous aerial systems scanned the horizon for illicit trafficking targets, a quieter but equally critical mission was unfolding behind the scenes at U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet’s Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) 2026 exercise. Inside a network of command trailers operating advanced unmanned systems, researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) and industry partner LEMA were proving that the future of expeditionary operations depends not only on autonomous platforms and artificial intelligence, but also on resilient, unmanned energy systems capable of providing uninterrupted power in austere environments.

ERDC, Cache Energy advance long-duration energy storage for Army installations

Sarah Clark, public affairs specialist — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:09:30 GMT

Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) are advancing a next-generation energy storage capability designed to strengthen installation resilience during extended power disruptions.

ERDC, U.S. Forest Service make historic agreement to accelerate forest capabilities

Justus Reed, Public Affairs Specialist — Mon, 11 May 2026 19:58:00 GMT

Thanks to a historic agreement between the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and the U.S. Forest Service, a foundational dataset has been created to bolster the nation’s forests.

From Lab to River: ERDC is removing roadblocks to infrastructure modernization

Tim Reeves, ERDC Corporate Communications Office — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:22:24 GMT

America’s locks and dams are on borrowed time, with many operating well beyond their life expectancy. The economic risk of a single failure has forced waterway managers to rely on long-standing technologies and designs, rather than adopting more modern, innovative components. To help reduce the risk and provide assurance to those managing and operating these structures, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is designing a first-of-its-kind model to test, validate and accelerate the deployment of new infrastructure designs and critical components.

ERDC study reveals pathway to breakdown “forever chemicals”

Justus Reed, Public Affairs Specialist — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:41:41 GMT

A study on breaking down PFAS molecules conducted by two researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) was recently published in a leading, peer-reviewed scientific journal.

ERDC Advances Transformational Arctic Sustainment Technology for Warfighters

Sarah Clark, public affairs specialist — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:09:55 GMT

As the U.S. Army increases its operational focus in the Arctic, researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) are delivering a proven solution for one of the region’s toughest challenges — sustaining Soldiers in extreme cold weather.

RD26 showcases ERDC innovation, collaboration

Annette Kirklin, public affairs specialist — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:42:01 GMT

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) recently hosted RD26, the fifth installment of its biennial research and development workshop, bringing together a record number of participants from across the enterprise.

ERDC, LEMA Drive Innovation in Unmanned Power Capabilities

Sarah Clark, public affairs specialist — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:03:58 GMT

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), in partnership with long-time industry collaborator LEMA, has reached two major milestones in the development of next-generation unmanned, resilient power generation systems designed to support military operations in austere and contested environments.

ERDC scientists transform scientific measurement with “illuminating” discovery

Justin Campfield, public affairs specialist — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:01:00 GMT

Fluorescence is a fundamental component of scientific analysis, serving as a core measurement tool in applications ranging from environmental monitoring and field analytics to materials testing and biological and chemical detection. The Army uses fluorescence in countless ways, including detecting toxic chemicals, identifying pathogens and even tracking how materials like cement degrade in the field, just to name a few. Combining subject-matter expertise from ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg, Miss., and Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., the team developed a novel approach – and potentially transformed innumerable scientific experiments – by building photoprotection directly into a new molecular design in a way that dramatically increases the durability of fluorescence.

Sullivan honored at ERDC retirement ceremony

Annette Kirklin, public affairs specialist — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:44:22 GMT

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) recently celebrated the distinguished career of Patricia M. Sullivan, Senior Executive Service (SES), who retired after more than 41 years of dedicated service.

ERDC Advances Joint Port Damage Recovery Capabilities Through Tri-Service Training

Kaley Webb, public affairs specialist — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:20:44 GMT

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is strengthening expeditionary logistics capabilities through the development and deployment of innovative Port Damage Recovery (PDR) kits, designed to rapidly restore damaged maritime infrastructure in contested environments.

ERDC Hydrogen Energy Node Installed at Fort Bliss Innovations Lab

Sarah Clark, public affairs specialist — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:19:09 GMT

The 1st Armored Division (1 AD) Innovations Lab, located on Fort Bliss, Texas, is now at the forefront of Army energy modernization following the installation and operational validation of a cutting-edge hydrogen nanogrid, also known as an energy node, developed with industry collaboration at the U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC)’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL).

From concept to creation: ERDC Fabrication Shops power innovation

Mary Margaret Edney, Public Affairs Chief — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:45:48 GMT

ERDC’s Fabrication Shops serve as a unique capability within USACE, providing the Corps with the ability to quickly design, build or repair specialized mechanisms needed to accomplish the mission. Comprised of the Machine Shop, Model Shop and Welding Shop, the team of nearly 30 craftsmen works closely with engineers and project teams to fabricate everything from hydraulic models to field repairs.

Dr. Sally Shoop awarded American Society of Civil Engineers Can-Am Amity Award

Justin Campfield, public affairs specialist — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:07:10 GMT

Dr. Sally Shoop, research engineer with ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, has been awarded the 2026 Can-Am Civil Engineering Amity Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Advanced Scour Collaboration Ensures Critical Infrastructure Stability

Kaley Webb, public affairs specialist — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:15:57 GMT

Collaboration between the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans District is a critical step in ensuring the stability of vital infrastructure. ERDC is assisting the district in inspecting the dewatered bays for voids beneath the Old River Low Sill Structure, located about 25 miles south of Vidalia, Louisiana, as part of the Old River Control Complex.

Testing continues on lock improvements along upper Ohio River

Carol C. Coleman, public affairs specialist — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:15:26 GMT

As navigation improvements continue along the upper Ohio River, a team of researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are developing physical models to test new designs of the lock systems to ensure they function as intended.

Artificial Intelligence R&D: A Force Multiplier for our military and nation

Pentagon News — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:07:37 GMT

From ensuring the resilience of America’s critical infrastructure to giving Warfighters a decisive edge on the battlefield, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence across the full spectrum of its civil and military missions.