VICKSBURG, Miss. - The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Navigation Research, Development and Technology program hosted the annual Navigation Research Area Review Group (RARG) meeting April 1-3 in Vicksburg, Miss.
The RARG annually reviews research requirements and prioritizes statements of need (SoN) submitted by the Navigation Community of Practice across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) covering: Navigation systems; Dredging Operations and Environmental Research; Coastal Inlets Research Programs; Navigation Structures; Regional Sediment Management; Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging Lidar; Monitoring Completed Navigations Projects, Dredging Operations Technology Support; Dredging Innovations Group; and Inland Electronics Navigational Charts.
The RARG is comprised of one representative from each USACE office with a navigation mission. This includes one representative from each major subordinate command (MSC) and district office, in addition to the Inland Navigation Design Center, Inland Marine Transportation System Working Group, Coastal Working Group, Marine Design Center, Inland Navigation Planning Center of Expertise, Deep Draft Planning Center of Expertise, Risk Management Center, and the Institute for Water Resources. Typically, MSC and district representatives come from Operations or Engineering Division positions.
According to ERDC Civil Works Technical Director Jeff Lillycrop, during the meeting, each SoN is explained to RARG members for clarity regarding the problem or need submitted. The members discuss each SoN, sharing the importance of each need within the perspective of the offices represented. After all discussion concludes, member rank each SoN and the rankings of all members are then combined to determine the final ranking of each SoN.
“The advantages gained by holding the RARG meeting include the RARG members having opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion of the problems facing the navigation community around the nation, to see examples of research and development (R&D) activities and capabilities that address their needs, and to prioritize future ERDC navigation R&D work through the importance they assign to SoN submissions,” Lillycrop said.
“Representatives from five divisions, 14 districts, five specialty centers, five of ERDC’s labs, the Institute for Water Resources, and Army Geospatial Center participated in the three-day event, interacting with ERDC researchers,” said Dinah McComas, ERDC CHL civil engineering technician. “In addition to program status reports and ranking statements of need, one full day was spent touring the group around ERDC to see research and product demonstrations.”
ERDC Construction Engineering Research Laboratory Materials Engineer Jeffrey Ryan discussed various projects, such as fiber reinforced polymer composite materials, emerging filler materials for miter and quoin blocks, innovative high-performance coatings for hydraulic steel structures, and promoted the Paint Technology Center, a Corps center of expertise.
"We are utilizing novel materials to solve corrosion issues on a multitude of Civil Works infrastructure," Ryan said.
"We are researching various commercially-available epoxy grouts and sealants that have been used by a multitude of districts in the field,” Ryan said. “This work resulted from a recent statement of need concerning premature failures of backing materials as well as a lack of updated engineering guidance. This work will lead to material specification requirements, quick QA (quality assurance) testing requirements and procedures, and updates to the miter gates guide specification," he said.
ERDC Environmental Laboratory’s Cynthia Banks, research biologist and Dredging Operations Technical Support (DOTS) program manager, provided information on the program.
“DOTS provides direct environmental and engineering technical support to USACE operations and maintenance (O&M) navigation and dredging missions,” Banks said. “Technology transfer activities have supported diverse field needs for years and have directly benefited O&M dredging operations throughout the United States. This forum is significant in that it gives researchers an opportunity to network with individuals from USACE districts and divisions to discuss opportunities for future navigation and dredging research and technical transfer.”
The RARG ties in with the Corps’ navigation mission to provide safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally-sustainable waterborne transportation systems for the movement of commerce, national security needs and recreation, as well as the RARG mission to participate in the meeting, provide program status, transfer technology, discuss and prioritize short-term and strategic needs, and collaborate with ERDC personnel.
“I was not aware of all the ERDC capabilities and the research available that could help researchers in my district,” said Jackie Keiser, chief of Coastal Navigation at the Jacksonville District. “This forum is very informative.”
In addition to giving district and division personnel the opportunity to participate in setting research priorities and to see the many technology demonstrations, the RARG allows ERDC participants to make new contacts and strengthen existing relationships with their primary customers—field personnel.
“This year's meeting was a great success,” Lillycrop said.
“The meeting was accurately categorized as not being a conference which permitted attendance by a larger number of representatives so a better perspective of national needs was gained.
“For some representatives, this was their first time to visit ERDC and they were impressed with the capabilities and facilities seen during the demonstrations. Most importantly, the representatives provided careful and deliberate consideration of the SoNs and executed their prioritization responsibilities in a very conscientious manner.”
“The primary goal is to better communicate the opportunity for anyone outside ERDC to identify navigation problems and needs by submitting SoNs. Navigation R&D exists to help ensure USACE meets its navigation mission. ERDC relies on Headquarters, MSCs and districts to let us know the challenges they face as they execute the Corps' navigation mission,” Lillycrop said.