19 Sep 2024

The Arctic Deployable Resilient Installation Water Purification and Treatment System (DRIPS): Microgrid Integration with Geoenabled Water Production and Disinfection Systems for Installations

Abstract: The purpose of the Arctic Deployable Resilient Installation water Purification and treatment System (DRIPS) is to be a critical asset in disaster response and military operations by providing a reliable and effective means of producing potable water and disinfection in a challenging and unpredictable environment, such as in an extremely cold climate. The objective of this effort was to deliver, integrate, and demonstrate the Arctic DRIPS to show that it can provide drinkable water to users of the microgrid within polar climate zones. Its adaptability, mobility, and comprehensive water treatment capabilities make it an invaluable resource for addressing water-related emergencies and water disruptions and for sustaining critical missions. It also addresses a point of need by improving the ability to meet demands while reducing convoy requirements and the logistical foot-print and ensuring the well-being of affected installations during disaster responses, training operations, normal water disruptions, and emergency preparation. The DRIPS was delivered to Fort Wainwright, a sub-Arctic installation, to demonstrate the integration of a water treatment component within a microgrid structure and to help them be better prepared to meet their water and energy requirement goals. The microgrid integration requirements were met upon implementation of this project.

11 Aug 2023

International Workshop on Cold Regions Defense Infrastructure: 13–15 September 2022, Hanover, New Hampshire

Abstract: The Inaugural International Workshop on Cold Regions Defense Infrastructure united engineers and scientists of the US Department of Defense with defense representatives from the other nations comprising the International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR): Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand. Through the ICE-PPR Memorandum of Understanding, Project Arrangements (PAs) enable the seven nations to share measurements, models, and access to research sites and facilities. The goal of the workshop was to work as a coherent team to identify needs and develop PAs for three major topic areas: infrastructure, water/wastewater, and energy. Increasing interest in earth’s polar regions necessitates identifying capabilities and gaps for these critical mission-relevant topic areas.

1 Sep 2020

PUBLICATION NOTICE: Water Security Scenarios: Planning for Installation Water Disruptions

Abstract: The Army’s critical missions are at risk from interruption of water supplies. Sufficient amounts of high- quality potable water are a resource without substitute. The Army’s Installation Energy and Water Security Policy establishes requirements for installations to sustain critical mission capabilities and to mitigate risks posed by energy and water disruptions that affect installations; this includes coordinating vulnerability and risk assessments of potential disruptions and implementing adequate responses to mitigate identified risks. Resilient installations will develop storage capacity to forestall water shortages and will also have short- and long-term plans to help the installation recover from events and forestall progressing to more severe deficits. This project supports compliance with the water security policy by exploring the range of conditions and responses possible across installations. Multiple scenarios were developed to explore how a 14-day interruption in water supply might affect an installation and to provide preliminary guidance to help installations develop strategies to address water disruptions to critical missions drawing from existing processes used in mission assurance. Researchers investigated types of installations and classes of scenarios most relevant to installation water security planning and explored several scenarios to provide a framework to helps installations advance their water resilience and security planning.

10 Jun 2020

PUBLICATION NOTICE: Projecting Changes in Food Security Throughout Central America

Abstract: Climate non-stationarity continues to change the productivity of local food and water supply. These changes in supplies could result in starvation or surpluses, greatly affecting the surrounding populations and causing adverse effects such as malnutrition, mass migration, and political unrest. This study addresses the following questions regarding the future potential of land resources to support local populations with food and water: How will crop production be affected by changing environmental conditions? Which specific regions are expected to experience the greatest pressure? How might we expect land use to shift through the end of the 21st century, based on future environmental conditions? Current crop growth is analyzed, along with projected crop growth based on future climate scenarios. Recent historic anthropogenic biome maps are statistically correlated with recent historic climate data to generate models and are applied to anticipated future climates to generate future anthrome maps. The crop analysis is then coupled with the anthromes results, yielding a crop suitability forecast. This analysis is constrained to the area of Central America over the course of the 21st century for this study.