23 Apr 2026

Development of an Agnostic Reservoir Model to Explore Wildfire Impact on Water Quality

Abstract: Despite the growing global concern surrounding the havoc caused by wildfires, there are still prominent gaps in knowledge regarding fire effects on nearby waterways. An agnostic CE-QUAL-W2 model was developed to look at the impact of wildfires on reservoir water quality, with a focus on harmful algal blooms. The model was informed using ten years of meteorological data from sites in the Pacific Northwest, United States. Wildfire scenarios were generated (one each for May, June, July, August, and September) using changes in temperature, total suspended solids, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, and solar radiation typical of wildfires, informed via literature review. Harmful algal blooms showed the most sensitivity to fires that occurred prior to the growing season, likely due to the influx of phosphate accumulating in the system prior to growth. However, accumulation of nutrients for fires after the growing season showed impacts on blooms the following year. Increases in total dissolved solids during the fire could potentially lead to delays in initial bloom timing due to temporary light limitation. Results from the model runs indicate that wildfires can impact reservoir water quality and bloom dynamics not only immediately, but for months to years following a wildfire.

13 Jun 2025

Enhanced Route Reconnaissance—Generation 1

Abstract: The movement of soldiers and materiel across battlespace is critical to a successful military operation. Knowledge of the road network condition ensures safe and successful vehicle maneuver. This research focused on remote assessment of poor-quality paved road networks for vehicle maneuver using data products derived from three-dimensional point clouds. Point clouds were generated from lidar sensors deployed from ground and airborne platforms to enable engineering analysis of the pavement surface. A series of algorithms developed to extract roughness, grade, radius of curvature, and width along the road network ensured storage of information for graphical display. A vehicle speed lookup table was calculated by conducting computer simulations using the NATO Reference Mobility Model over a range of road parameters. The lookup table enabled determination of the maximum allowable speed for a given vehicle type associated with the extracted road parameters. A graphical interface, developed for displaying the percentage speed reduction as either red, amber, or green squares along the road network, provided visual assessments of road condition. This report summarizes developing a software suite to calculate and visualize speed reduction over a road network as a function of route geometry, condition, and vehicle type. The interface developed can aid in critical logistical decisions that influence the success of military maneuver operations.