Beginning in October, the Power of ERDC podcast will...

History was made this summer when the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) hosted cadets and midshipmen from each of the U.S. service academies for the first known complete inter academy internship. As part of each academy’s Cadet Summer Research Internship, this opportunity provided an immersive research and development experience supporting field data collection at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) in New Jersey and artificial intelligence model development at the ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL). Supporting research within the Intelligent Environmental Battlespace Awareness (IEBA) Program, Global Forest Characterization Task, this two-week internship included one week of field data collection and analysis at JBMDL, and one week of model development training at EL. Field data collection at JBMDL included plot-level forest sampling to quantify forest attributes related to radiofrequency propagation through forests. The data collected will be used to inform mission critical environmental intelligence and was used to develop individual research projects tailored towards each cadet’s areas of study and experience. Beyond the science, the internship focused on growth and collaboration, which included introducing the cadets and midshipmen to the world-class research and development ERDC delivers in support of the Warfighter, and how it might impact their future as military officers in ever-increasing complex and joint environments. Watch this video to learn more about their experience.

History was made this summer when the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) hosted cadets and midshipmen from each of the U.S. service academies for the first known complete inter academy internship. As part of each academy’s Cadet Summer Research Internship, this opportunity provided an immersive research and development experience supporting field data collection at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) in New Jersey and artificial intelligence model development at the ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL). Supporting research within the Intelligent Environmental Battlespace Awareness (IEBA) Program, Global Forest Characterization Task, this two-week internship included one week of field data collection and analysis at JBMDL, and one week of model development training at EL. Field data collection at JBMDL included plot-level forest sampling to quantify forest attributes related to radiofrequency propagation through forests. The data collected will be used to inform mission critical environmental intelligence and was used to develop individual research projects tailored towards each cadet’s areas of study and experience. Beyond the science, the internship focused on growth and collaboration, which included introducing the cadets and midshipmen to the world-class research and development ERDC delivers in support of the Warfighter, and how it might impact their future as military officers in ever-increasing complex and joint environments. Watch this video to learn more about their experience.

Maneuver-enabling infrastructure is critical to mission success. But building this infrastructure in austere or remote environments comes with significant challenges — from material transport to construction speed. At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), researchers are exploring additive construction technology to address these challenges. By combining a portable mixer, custom-built material pump and tower printer, this approach allows the Army to 3D-print infrastructure using local materials, reducing the need to transport heavy supplies overseas. This innovation not only saves time and money, but also strengthens mission readiness by enabling rapid, flexible solutions for combat support and counter-mobility operations. Watch to see how ERDC and its industry partners are shaping the future of Army infrastructure. U.S. Army Video by Greg Mason, Fort McCoy Multimedia-Visual Information Office

This summer, the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) provided research internships to more than 45 high school, undergraduate, and graduate student STEM scholars from 20 schools. Designed to prepare the next generation of STEM professionals for careers in science and technology, the internships give scholars the opportunity to join a CRREL research team working on real projects with real-world implications while also exploring their own individualized research interests. "Our summer intern program is great for students because we give them hands on opportunities to solve problems that matter to our country," said Dr. Orian Welling, chief of CRREL's Research and Engineering Division. "For us it's just an awesome opportunity to get an injection of fresh ideas from students who are bringing the latest from academia into our problem space and it’s a great recruiting pipeline." The interns' summer at CRREL culminated in a student science and technology symposium where they presented their research findings to the laboratory's research scientist staff. To learn more about student opportunities at CRREL and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, visit https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Careers/Student-Opportunities.

Coastal engineers, emergency response teams and military planners may soon have a new best friend, thanks to continued research at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). For several weeks, a quadruped robot was deployed along North Carolina beaches – at the ERDC Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina – to test its ability to navigate the unique coastline terrain, deploy advanced sensors and collect critical landscape data. The Sand Hound project – a partnership between ERDC and the University of Delaware – has sought to test the commercially available technology, pushing it to the limits and writing the book on how best to deploy such technology for either civil works or military missions. #robotics #military #civilworks #quadruped #sensors #sensortechnology #lidar #beaches #coastal #coastalengineering #coastline #northcarolina #militaryplanning #emergencyresponse #engineer #engineers #engineering #landscape #delaware #universityofdelaware #academia #collaboration #partnerships #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Recently, a powerful earthquake near Russia’s northern Pacific coast triggered a tsunami that set off alerts across the Pacific Ocean basin, including coastal communities in Alaska, Oregon, California and Hawaii. For hours, buoys throughout several networks – including the Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis network – tracked the tsunami’s speed and resulting wave heights, giving emergency officials throughout the region critical data points to decide when to issue evacuation alerts. As the waves made their way across the ocean, traveling as much as 500 miles per hour, engineers and scientists were running models, collecting data and watching. Thankfully, the tsunami greatly dissipated, resulting in minimal damage across the region. For decades, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), in collaboration with other federal agencies and universities, has used buoy data to develop, enhance and share high-performance wave and storm models. These models will be further enhanced with the data collected from this recent event. Drs. Kate Brodie and Ali Abdolali, oceanographers with ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, discuss the tsunami and the ongoing research into better understanding the threat posed by severe weather events.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, manages hundreds of locks and dams, which are critical components of a complex navigation system that is central to our nation’s economy and security. Inspecting this aging aquatic infrastructure often requires costly and dangerous processes, such as deploying divers or dewatering structures, which shuts down the flow of goods and materials. To help USACE districts perform these inspections in a safer and more cost-effective manner, and with higher quality, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has been testing the use of an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). By conducting research into how to best use this off-the-shelf technology for underwater inspections, the ERDC is testing, validating and developing systematic and best practices. This insight will help USACE know what works, what doesn’t and will enable them to fully capitalize on the transformative potential of ROVs for underwater inspections. Watch this video to learn more. #military #civilworks #infrastructure #lock #dams #navigation #inlandnavigation #economy #nationalsecurity #rivers #robotics #underwater #engineer #engineers #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, innovation is transforming the speed and scale of delivery to the Warfighter and the nation – elevating mission readiness and the sustainment of critical infrastructure. From rapid part replacement in inland navigation systems to the use of high-performance materials for military engineering, large-scale metal additive manufacturing is revolutionizing defense and infrastructure readiness. A defining metric has been speed. Parts that used to take 18 months or more to manufacture with traditional methods can now be produced in weeks using additive manufacturing. Through partnerships with industry and academia, ERDC is raising the bar on scalable, efficient and mission-ready technology solutions for our nation and military. Watch to learn more.

At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, innovation is transforming the speed and scale of delivery to the Warfighter and the nation – elevating mission readiness and the sustainment of critical infrastructure. From rapid part replacement in inland navigation systems to the use of high-performance materials for military engineering, large-scale metal additive manufacturing is revolutionizing defense and infrastructure readiness. A defining metric has been speed. Parts that used to take 18 months or more to manufacture with traditional methods can now be produced in weeks using additive manufacturing. Through partnerships with industry and academia, ERDC is raising the bar on scalable, efficient and mission-ready technology solutions for our nation and military. Watch to learn more.

At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Information Technology Laboratory, researchers are shaping the factory of the future — where artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-performance computing and cybersecurity come together to transform mission-critical manufacturing and operations. From real-time, AI-powered monitoring of additive manufacturing processes to digital twin technology and closed-loop machine control, ERDC’s work is driving a new era of secure, on-demand production in support of national defense. Whether on an aircraft carrier or forward operating base, the ability to design and produce mission-essential components at the point of need is no longer a future vision — it’s becoming a reality. Learn how ERDC is engineering the future of manufacturing, one breakthrough at a time.

At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Information Technology Laboratory, researchers are shaping the factory of the future — where artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-performance computing and cybersecurity come together to transform mission-critical manufacturing and operations. From real-time, AI-powered monitoring of additive manufacturing processes to digital twin technology and closed-loop machine control, ERDC’s work is driving a new era of secure, on-demand production in support of national defense. Whether on an aircraft carrier or forward operating base, the ability to design and produce mission-essential components at the point of need is no longer a future vision — it’s becoming a reality. Learn how ERDC is engineering the future of manufacturing, one breakthrough at a time.

The U.S. Army is taking a significant step forward in cold-weather operations with the initial rollout and testing of a groundbreaking new capability designed to optimize routes for vehicles traveling in challenging winter terrain. Developed by ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Winter Route Planning (WRP) algorithm promises to dramatically reduce the risk of vehicle immobilization and increase overall efficiency when routing soldiers to desired target locations. The WRP algorithm isn’t just about finding the shortest distance between two points. It intelligently analyzes a complex array of factors – including detailed terrain data, current snowpack conditions, and the specific characteristics of the vehicle being used – to generate the optimal route. This optimal route can be based on time to target, fuel efficiency, on-road, off-road, a combination of both on and off-road along with other parameters. This means a path designed to minimize the chance of getting stuck, bogged down, or otherwise delayed by winter’s challenges. Currently being tested and refined, the WRP algorithm is continuously being enhanced and integrated with the widely-used Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) software. Users input their desired start and destination points within TAK, and the WRP algorithm swiftly generates the best possible route. Crucially, the route is then displayed within the TAK interface, alongside a live view of the vehicle’s current position.

The logistical arm of the Department of Defense is vast, but one wouldn't expect that the military's mantra of 'bring your own equipment' would also relate to airfields! Expeditionary airfield matting has been in use since 1939 by the U.S. Army Air Corps, and a team from ERDC's Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory recently traveled to Nellis Air Force Base to field test new matting components that are lighter, easier to pack and may even last longer than current models.