11 Sep 2026

A Novel Lightweight Electromagnetic Induction Sensor for Permafrost Detection and Mapping

Abstract: This article introduces a novel, lightweight, electronically bucked, high-frequency electromagnetic induction (EMI) system for the detection and mapping of spatial freeze and thaw patterns in the near surface of remote, Arctic, and sub-Arctic regions. The system incorporates an electronically isolated transmitter (TX) and bucking coil and utilizes an electronically controlled cancellation approach to suppress the primary magnetic field at the receiver (RX) coil. This integrated hardware–software control architecture enables the system to effectively bridge the frequency gap between traditional EMI sensors (operating from a few hertz to several tens of kilohertz and primarily sensitive to eddy currents in the soil) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) systems (operating from a few to several hundred megahertz (MHz) and are sensitive to displacement currents). The instrument is designed for easy deployment from unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for collecting high-resolution data over the Earth’s surface in both horizontal and vertical directions. Operating within the intermediate frequency range of approximately 100 kHz to several MHz, this newly developed UAS-deployable frequency-domain EMI (FDEMI) sensor enables rapid, cost-effective, and high-resolution spatial and spectral noninvasive measurements, resulting in detailed mapping of subsurface electromagnetic properties, including electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, and dielectric permittivity. The data presented in this study were collected over a freshwater lake in Lyme, NH, USA, and in the discontinuous permafrost zone of Fox, AK, USA, at 93 and 330 kHz. Results from both locations demonstrate this new FDEMI sensor’s sensitivity to 1) low-conductivity soils and 2) variations in depth to permafrost.

10 Sep 2026

Evaluating the Impact of Installation of Coastal Structure on Sediment Transport

Abstract: A coastal wave, hydrodynamic and sediment transport model was developed and applied for a small port in an estuarine system. The study focused on evaluating the installation of coastal structures at the modular causeway mooring field of the port, aiming to reduce sedimentation, maximize the usable waterway, and mitigate the potential for impact on the wetland adjacent to the mooring area. The model performance on sediment transport and morphology change was demonstrated by the comparison of survey data and model calculations. The modeled current fields support a plausible sediment source concerning the material accretion and channel infilling in the mooring field. The installation of a solid structure, a riprap or a sheet pile, surrounding the mooring field can act as a sediment barrier in the study area, which can reduce current and erosion in the identified sediment source area behind the mooring field and result in less sediment supply to the mooring field and the channel area over built structures.

10 Sep 2026

Decadal Data Set of Hourly Beach Profile Evolution in Duck, NC

Abstract: This paper presents initial results of a decadal dataset of sub-aerial beach profile evolution collected at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Field Research Facility in Duck, NC using a stationary terrestrial lidar scanner (TLS) mounted above the dune. The data are processed using an automated work flow in near realtime and are made public for the coastal science and engineering community to use at (https://chlthredds.erdc.dren.mil/). At submission, the data set consisted of 48,911 processed cross-shore profiles that passed the automated quality assurance quality control checks (81% of the 60,6046 collected scans). A basic description of the dataset is provided, including example storm impact and beach recovery sequences, and an initial investigation is presented that relates pre-storm beach morphology, storm wave power, and profile response and highlights the importance of initial beach state.

10 Sep 2026

L‐Band InSAR Snow Water Equivalent Retrieval Uncertainty Increases with Forest Cover Fraction

Abstract: There is a pressing need for global monitoring of snow water equivalent (SWE) at high spatiotemporal resolution, and L‐band (1–2 GHz) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) holds promise. However, the technique has not seen extensive evaluation in forests. We evaluated this technique across varying forest canopy conditions using eight InSAR pairs collected at the Fraser Experimental Forest, Colorado, USA by NASA UAVSAR during the 10‐week NASA SnowEx 2021 Campaign. Compared with in situ measurements, we found root mean squared errors (RMSEs) of 14–17 mm for SWE changes in forest cover fractions (FCF) < 0.40, but RMSEs increased to 33–40 mm at FCF > 0.50. Statistical distributions between normalized lidar snow depths and normalized UAVSAR SWE were similar at FCF < 0.5, but diverged at FCF > 0.50. Thus, the upcoming NISAR L‐band satellite has strong potential for global snowpack monitoring, including below sparse to moderate forest cover.

10 Sep 2026

Techno-Economic Feasibility of Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System Connected to Geothermal Heat Pumps for Seasonal Heating Load of Two Buildings in Fairbanks, Alaska

Abstract: Borehole thermal energy storage is an effective solution for managing imbalanced heating and cooling loads in cold regions. This study evaluated the long-term feasibility of a BTES system in the Fairbanks area, Alaska, through building energy modeling, resource characterization, and numerical modeling. The system was designed to store waste heat from a nearby coal power plant during summer and provide thermal energy during winter to geothermal heat pumps supplying heating loads in two buildings. Heating load profiles were modeled for the buildings using EnergyPlus, and the results indicated the annual heating load was 5.6 times greater than the cooling load. 40 borehole heat exchangers were pre-designed approximately 100 m away from the two buildings in terms of land availability and regulatorily optimized depth. The 20-year performance of the designed BTES system under two operational scenarios—one with a 5-year preheating period and one without—was numerically modeled using subsurface temperature and properties characterized through the literature review and thermal response tests. Both scenarios demonstrated that the BTES has the capacity to fully cover the heating loads in the two buildings throughout the 20-year lifetime. Production temperatures at central wells were 33% higher on average than at outer wells in both scenarios. The 5-year preheating period increased subsurface and extraction temperatures, and correspondingly annual average and total thermal energy production was higher for 8 years than in the scenario without the preheating period. These results highlight the long-term reliability and sustainability of the BTES system in meeting heating demands over its lifetime, with the preheating period offering potential performance improvements. Implementing the BTES system in cold regions with high heating demand, such as Fairbanks, Alaska, could provide a long-term, sustainable energy solution for managing imbalanced heating and cooling loads.

9 Sep 2026

Approach to Deploy, Attract, and Destroy Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins: Adsorptive and Destructive Printed Structures

Purpose: This technical note describes a novel capability for applying nanocomposite structures to adsorb and destroy harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins, including a path for the manufacturing process to transition to industry for wider-scale use. While previous work supported performance of the adsorb-only or destroy-only mechanisms, the innovation of this technology is to combine both mechanisms to work in concert. A road map is included for how these structures could be made and applied using three potential scenarios for field deployment: (1) mats applied to small, stagnant areas; (2) structures integrated into a pump-and-treat system for constricted waterways or discharges; and (3) use with a UV-enabled boat in open water.

9 Sep 2026

Enhancing Early-Season Detection of Harmful Algal Blooms Caused by Sediment-Borne Overwintering Cyanobacteria Using Metagenomic and qPCR Tools

Abstract: To better inform adaptive management strategies for harmful algal blooms (HABs), there is a critical need to improve detection capabilities of bloom risks earlier in the growing season. Emerging molecular tools such as metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and amplification-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can accurately identify the taxonomy of cyanobacteria and akinetes of which the latter are particularly challenging to distinguish morphologically and estimate their abundance. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of these advanced molecular tools to assessing the presence, density, and planktonic growth potential of overwintering cyanobacterial cells in sediments from historically HAB-impacted waterbodies in the USA. We conducted 14-day incubation experiments using field-collected lake sediments and characterized cyanobacterial taxonomy and abundance in the sediments (pre-incubation) and overlying water (post-incubation) using light microscopy, genus-specific qPCR, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative results, we not only identified the prevailing cyanobacterial genera that moved from sediment to water column over the incubation but also determined their relative abundance and the cyano-bacterial genera consistent between sediment and water column. This study demonstrated that metagenomic and qPCR tools provided additional lines of evidence to augment traditional microscopy and improved taxonomic identification and quantification. Our approach can better inform planktonic growth potential of problematic cyanobacteria to enhance early detection capabilities, and guide targeted countermeasures taken to improve preventative or remedial HAB management, reducing environmental and public health impacts.

8 Sep 2026

Synthesis of 4′-Methyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4-carbaldehyde from 4,4′-Dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl Toward Metal Complex Design

Purpose: The 4′-methyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4-carbaldehyde synthesized using the improved method discussed below will be used in the reaction with supramolecular scaffolds. Once connected to the supramolecular scaffold, it will be complexed with several metal ions to observe excited state photophysics.

8 Sep 2026

Using the ERDC Wellbot to Prevent and Remediate Biochemical Fouling in Relief Wells

Abstract: Relief wells relieve subsurface hydrostatic pressures that may develop within the foundations of dams, levees, and hydraulic structures. When these wells become fouled, they can lose their ability to reduce the hydrostatic pressure around the structure, which compromises its safety. Current methods for addressing fouling in relief wells can be hazardous, labor-intensive, ineffective, and expensive. This study tested the effectiveness of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Wellbot, an autonomous device that integrates UVC-emitting lamps with brushes to facilitate both physical and chemical removal of biofilm and chemical scale on the interior screen and casing of a well. The Wellbot was tested in 19 relief wells at two dams. Results were mixed, with the Wellbot generally outperforming conventional cleaning methods in qualitative visual comparison, matching conventional treatment in water level reduction, and either matching or underperforming conventional treatment in producing a specific capacity improvement. The Wellbot was simple to operate by a single person, and no training or technical expertise was required. The study identified the need for an automatic shutoff function, which, once implemented, should ready the Wellbot for wider deployment across the US Army Corps of Engineer’s more than 225 dam and levee systems.

8 Sep 2026

Slovenian Transportation Network Impacts from Landslides and Flooding

Abstract: Slovenia’s mountainous terrain and extensive river systems create significant risk to its national transportation network, particularly from flooding and landslides. This report presents a comprehensive risk assessment of the country’s road and railway systems to identify the most vulnerable infrastructure segments. The analysis integrated hydraulic modeling and national hazard datasets within a geographic information system framework. Flood hazards were modeled for 100-year and 500-year flood events using 1D and 2D HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System) software, with flow inputs derived from a frequency analysis of 71 stream gauges. Landslide risk was evaluated using the national susceptibility map developed by the Geological Survey of Slovenia. Final risk scores for each road and rail segment were calculated by combining the hazard exposure with a vulnerability metric reflecting route importance and connectivity. Results show that flood risk is localized but critical, especially where infrastructure crosses the Drava, Mura, and Sava River valleys. In contrast, landslide risk is more widespread across mountainous regions, particularly along corridors linking the seaport at Koper and Ljubljana, which are essential for commercial and logistical movement. These findings provide a data-driven basis for prioritizing infrastructure improvements and strengthening transportation resilience.