In dense urban environments and on the battlefield, our Warfighters must be prepared to face numerous threats, including toxic industrial chemicals, which can significantly hinder military operations. To help the Army bolster its force protection measures, computational chemistry experts from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are applying groundbreaking methods to help predict chemical threats before they impact mission success. Watch to learn more about how this team transforms physical principles into algorithmic models that can predict the behavior of chemicals and materials.

Dr. Garry Glaspell from the U.S. Army Engineer Research...

Water is a critical resource for every military operation, from forward operating bases in arid deserts, to unexpected deployments in remote locations. Ensuring clean, safe water can spell the difference between mission success and failure and comes with its own set of challenges for the Warfighter. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center are stepping up to meet this moment with a game-changing solution, graphene. Watch to see how they are harnessing the power of this advanced material.

Water is a critical resource for every military operation, from forward operating bases in arid deserts, to unexpected deployments in remote locations. Ensuring clean, safe water can spell the difference between mission success and failure and comes with its own set of challenges for the Warfighter. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center are stepping up to meet this moment with a game-changing solution, graphene. Watch to see how they are harnessing the power of this advanced material.

Members of CRREL’s mobility team and executive leadership recently spent the day at the Mount Washington Observatory on the mountain’s summit. While there, they learned about the observatory’s facilities and capabilities and explored opportunities for collaboration between their meteorological and operational staff and CRREL’s researchers and engineers. As part of the visit, CRREL’s research team also used the 4,618-foot climb in alpine elevation to test multiple vehicles in preparation for an upcoming technology testing exercise in the Arctic Circle.

The recently published groundbreaking National Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) Manual identifies Ordinary High Water Marks nationwide. This first-of-its-kind manual allows more timely, consistent, transparent, and predictable U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory decision-making as part of more than 70,000 permitting actions conducted yearly across the Corps.

Taylor Rycroft from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and...

Contaminated sediments in aquatic environments are a pressing concern, posing significant risks to ecosystems and public health. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is at the forefront of addressing this critical issue. In the ERDC Environmental Laboratory, engineers are developing innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of these contaminants, working to protect both the environment and communities that rely on clean water. In addition to contaminated sediments, the lab also addresses the management of dredged materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredges millions of cubic yards of sediment annually to maintain navigable waters. Finding sustainable uses for this material is essential. Watch to learn more.

Contaminated sediments in aquatic environments are a pressing concern, posing significant risks to ecosystems and public health. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is at the forefront of addressing this critical issue. In the ERDC Environmental Laboratory, engineers are developing innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of these contaminants, working to protect both the environment and communities that rely on clean water. In addition to contaminated sediments, the lab also addresses the management of dredged materials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredges millions of cubic yards of sediment annually to maintain navigable waters. Finding sustainable uses for this material is essential. Watch to learn more.

The Port of Long Beach, California, is the second busiest port in the United States. It handles more than nine-million 20-foot container units each year with cargo valued at $200 billion. Yet existing channel dimensions and tidal delays pose limitations and inefficiencies for current and future deep draft vessel traffic. To navigate the port complex, these larger vessels must carry a lighter load from their point of origin, which ultimately increases the nation’s transportation costs by requiring more ships to move cargo into and out of the complex. In 2016, Port of Long Beach officials began to address these constraints and sought federal assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District to conduct a deep draft navigation feasibility study of the port to widen and deepen its navigation channel. To test its proposed channel design improvements, District project engineers reached out to the U.S. Army’s Watercraft and Ship Simulator, headquartered at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to run ship simulations with pilots from the Port of Long Beach. The feasibility study was completed in 2021 and included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. The project is now in the pre-construction engineering design phase, and Los Angeles District project engineers have once again sought out ERDC’s expertise in ship simulation to help verify the navigability and safety of the selected channel design. Watch to learn more.

The Port of Long Beach, California, is the second busiest port in the United States. It handles more than nine-million 20-foot container units each year with cargo valued at $200 billion. Yet existing channel dimensions and tidal delays pose limitations and inefficiencies for current and future deep draft vessel traffic. To navigate the port complex, these larger vessels must carry a lighter load from their point of origin, which ultimately increases the nation’s transportation costs by requiring more ships to move cargo into and out of the complex. In 2016, Port of Long Beach officials began to address these constraints and sought federal assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District to conduct a deep draft navigation feasibility study of the port to widen and deepen its navigation channel. To test its proposed channel design improvements, District project engineers reached out to the U.S. Army’s Watercraft and Ship Simulator, headquartered at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to run ship simulations with pilots from the Port of Long Beach. The feasibility study was completed in 2021 and included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. The project is now in the pre-construction engineering design phase, and Los Angeles District project engineers have once again sought out ERDC’s expertise in ship simulation to help verify the navigability and safety of the selected channel design. Watch to learn more.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (AUS) technicians from ERDC were recently attached to the 27th Engineer Battalion in order to provide a bird's eye view on damages and relief efforts.

Recently, ERDC’s biopolymer research group conducted an overtopping field study of one of their experimental embankments. An earthen embankment was constructed for this experiment using locally sourced Vicksburg soil to evaluate its performance and compare between biopolymer-treated and untreated sections during an overtopping event.

In honor of the USACE 250th anniversary this year, we are telling the story of our past, present and future of engineering solutions to our nation’s toughest challenges. With that in mind, take a look at ERDC’s Construction and Engineering Research Lab’s (CERL) Additive Construction program. Utilizing local materials and a robust 3D printer that packs up into a storage container, the program is set to revolutionize how we keep our warfighters safe while abroad.