17 Oct 2024

Building Control Graphics Criteria Update: Standards and Criteria Project 23T12

Abstract: This US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Standards and Criteria effort recommends updates to the building-graphics-related content in Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3-470-01 and Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) 25 10 10. Building graphics serve as the primary facility interface and are required for any HVAC controls integration project to a base-wide system; however, the current lack of criteria significantly limits their effectiveness and regularly yields inconsistent, low-quality tools for end users. This project developed “Guiding Principles” of good HVAC graphics along with the criteria language to assist the DoD in procuring and implement-ing good graphics. This report includes extensive illustrations to demonstrate good versus poor implementations of the proposed criteria. The intent is not to establish DoD-level graphics standards with these images but give a litmus test to designers and quality assurance staff for what right (and wrong) looks like. Primary recommendations are for graphics drawings designer responsibilities and contractor shop drawing requirements where installation standards are unavailable. Both designer criteria and spec-level functionality are defined using the Guiding Principles developed in this report. Future re-search topics are also described for enhanced trending capabilities, development of standard HVAC system-level performance indicators, and cloud-based connections to ongoing commissioning (OCx) systems.

15 Oct 2024

Deployable Resilient Installation Water Purification and Treatment System (DRIPS): Relief Well Biofouling Treatment of Dams and Levees

Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducts regular inspections and maintenance of relief wells to ensure their proper functionality and to identify early signs of malfunction or potential failure. Expenses associated with labor, materials, and transportation are the primary cost drivers of relief-well maintenance. To minimize labor hours and materials, a treatment approach intended to improve logistics and reduce material costs during relief-well treatment was developed and tested. This approach employed external UVC, mechanical brush treatments, and chlorinated-gas-infused water to produce liquid sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). Preliminary bench-scale testing with chlorine, oxalic acid, and UVC informed the selection of field testing methods and optimal amendment concentrations. Field demonstrations were conducted annually over three years. During the demonstrations, the system underwent continuous optimization to enhance its efficiency. Different locations in Mississippi (Grenada Dam, Eagle Lake, and Magna Vista) were selected for testing. Both new and traditional treatment approaches yielded adequate results, achieving microbial reduction at 96% to 100%. The development and refinement of this system demonstrated that relief wells can be treated within a comparable timeframe and with similar efficiency while utilizing fewer purchased chemicals and materials.

9 Oct 2024

Unified Facilities Criteria and Unified Facilities Guide Specifications for Sustainable Military Construction : Concrete, Asphalt, Wood, and Life-Cycle Assessment Perspectives

Abstract: Construction materials such as concrete, asphalt, and wood are essential components for Department of Defense (DoD) Military Construction (MILCON) and construction for contingency operations around the world. From housing facilities, to airfields, to magazines and hardened structures, each of these materials fulfill numerous Army building applications. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions stemming from the manufacturing, application, maintenance, and disposal of concrete and steel exact a significant climate burden. Thus, due to their pervasive use and commodity status, the advancement of sustainable concrete, asphalt, and wood materials are a critical driver for GHG mitigation. This report communicates a first step toward decarbonization-focused updates to UFC and UFGS by outlining major specifications related to concrete, asphalt, and wood with near- and long-term strategies to facilitate modernization. The Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is poised to make a significant impact on the identification and integration of sustainable materials to meet regulatory goals for the re-duction of GHG emissions in MILCON. New guidance will be integrated into UFC and UFGS by leveraging unique re-search, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) capabilities in materials science, life-cycle assessment, and federal relationships with discipline working groups

8 Oct 2024

Remote Monitoring of Cathodic Protection Systems on Navigable Waterways

Abstract: Cathodic protection is one of the main modes of corrosion prevention for structures in navigable waterways. The rectifier output voltage must be in a specific range to provide effective protection against corrosion. This effort was designed to monitor, predict, and stabilize the efficacy of multiple cathodic protection systems. Copper/copper-sulfate half-cell electrode sensors, water quality sensors, and gauges for rectifier output were connected to modems at multiple locks so the data could be analyzed to create a predictive maintenance algorithm.

8 Oct 2024

Identifying Sustainability and Resilience Investments to Implement the 2022 US Army Climate Strategy: Fiscal Year 2023 Sustainable Design and Development Update

Abstract: This report offers a detailed assessment of the US Army’s adherence to sustainable design and development (SDD) policies, encompassing the US Army Sustainable Design and Development (SDD) Policy memorandum; Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 1-200-02, High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements; Executive Orders 14,008 and 14,057; the Army Climate Strategy; and required LEED v4 certifications. The evaluation comprises five primary tasks, including quarterly reports on US Army military construction (MILCON) project LEED v4 certifications, analysis of US Army LEED v4 certifications and trends, research and implementation of the intermediate objectives in the 2022 US Army Climate Strategy focusing on strategies to achieve climate goals, an analysis ex-plaining the advantages of Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal (PEER) certification for Army microgrids, and industry knowledge gained from participation in the Greenbuild 2022 conference. Key recommendations developed in this assessment include enhancing transparency in LEED reporting, considering PEER certification, expediting climate strategy implementation, and active participation in industry gatherings. This report serves as a comprehensive resource for informed decision-making, aiding the US Army in advancing its sustainable design and development initiatives to meet future environmental and sustainability objectives.

18 Sep 2024

The Military and Planning for Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Purpose: Understanding the military challenges related to lithium-ion battery disposal and learning about current and future trends in recycling efforts can inform safer and less environmentally destructive end-of-life solutions. Established lead-acid battery recycling methods were compared to the still-evolving lithium-ion battery recycling processes. Executive Order (EO) 13817, EO 13953, and EO 14017 have prioritized the identification of critical minerals, including minerals necessary for lithium-ion battery production, and the need to strengthen supply chains as vital to national security. To support this national security effort, the military may be able to contribute to the domestic supply through employing efficient recycling practices and encouraging industry to move towards standardization. Evolving recycling practices, including efforts to eliminate hazards in spent lithium-ion batteries, may be able to help the military dispose of these items more safely and cost-effectively, especially in contingency locations.

13 Sep 2024

The Built Environment of the US Air Force All-Volunteer Force: Preliminary Analysis of Building Trends: Preliminary Analysis of Building Trends

Purpose: July 1, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the all-volunteer force (AVF). At this time, buildings, structures, and other elements of the US Air Force’s (USAF) built environment associated specifically with the AVF will be potentially eligible as historic resources under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The relationship between the AVF and the USAF built environment, however, has not yet been examined, and no historic contexts exist that provide guidance on how to identify and evaluate properties that may be associated with the built environment of the USAF AVF and offer recommendations on management of these properties to assist USAF installations in complying with the NHPA. As a result, it is unclear if, and to what extent, buildings, structures, and other elements associated specifically with the AVF exist that may require management under NHPA. The USAF desires to better understand the relationship between the AVF and the USAF built environment and has requested the Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) conduct a built-environment analysis of existing USAF real property. This research is intended to support USAF decision-makers in determining if further research is warranted and how best to plan for managing AVF-related buildings, structures, and other built environment elements under NHPA. Results of this analysis indicate a relationship exists between the AVF and the USAF built environment; 42 built-environment feature types with construction rates higher than the overall average during the AVF period are identified.

9 Sep 2024

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) for Levee Culvert Inspections in USACE Flood Control Systems (FCS)

Abstract: Levee inspections are essential in preventing flooding within populated regions. Risk assessments of structures are performed to identify potential failure modes to maintain the safety and health of the structure. The data collection and defect coding parts of the inspection process can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. The integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques may increase accuracy of assessments and reduce time and cost. To develop a foundation for a fully autonomous inspection process, this research investigates methods to gather information for levees, structures, and culverts as well as methods to identify indicators of future failures using AI and ML techniques. Robotic plat-form and instrumentation options that can be used in the data collection process are also explored, and a platform-agnostic solution is proposed.

11 Jul 2024

Composite Material Applications and Research Roadmap for US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works

Abstract: This report discusses and ranks the remaining research, development, and deployment opportunities for fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials in USACE marine infrastructure applications. Following the successes of at least 10 fiber-reinforced polymer composite pilot projects from 2015 to 2022, Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, allocated funding for a roadmap report that articulates lingering implementation barriers and prioritizes steps to overcome those challenges through laboratory and field experimentation. The objective analysis herein draws from real Operational Condition Assessment data generated in the field. Key opportunities lie in inspection techniques, standardized design approaches for molded components, and improved guidance to ad-dress abrasion, fatigue, and concentrated load cases at the 10-meter scale.

10 Jul 2024

Historic Landscape Inventory for Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky

Abstract: This project was undertaken to provide the US Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, with a cultural landscape inventory of Zachary Taylor National Cemetery via funding from the St Louis Mandatory Center of Expertise (MCX) for the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections (CMAC). The 16-acre cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, is found in Louisville, Kentucky, and contains more than 11,400 burials. The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center-Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) was tasked with inventorying and assessing the cultural landscape at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery through the creation of a landscape development context, a description of current conditions, and an analysis of changes to the cultural landscape over time. All landscape features were included in the survey as federal policy on national cemeteries requires that all national cemetery landscape features be considered contributing elements, regardless of age. The historic landscape elements of the cemetery, like the original overarching Beaux-Arts plan and circulation, cannot be restored due to the current number of burials. However, some elements can be reemphasized by historic landscape management planning, such as the restoration of the portions of the allée of pin oak (Quercus palustris) trees.