Developed to support the critical missions of the U.S. Army’s dive teams, the Multifunctional Assessment Reconnaissance Vessel II (MARV II) has now seen its mission portfolio expanded to support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works projects and respond to natural disasters. The innovative deployable platform allows for remote surveys and can operate in as little as six inches of water. Engineers and scientists at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) are constantly researching ways to increase the vehicle’s capabilities and discovering new areas where its technology can be used to support the Army and the nation. MARV II was recently on display during the USACE Structural Engineering and Technology Symposium, hosted at ERDC’s headquarters in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Learn more about MARV II from William Butler, chief of CHL’s Field Data Collection and Analysis Branch.

Developed to support the critical missions of the U.S. Army’s dive teams, the Multifunctional Assessment Reconnaissance Vessel II (MARV II) has now seen its mission portfolio expanded to support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works projects and respond to natural disasters. The innovative deployable platform allows for remote surveys and can operate in as little as six inches of water. Engineers and scientists at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) are constantly researching ways to increase the vehicle’s capabilities and discovering new areas where its technology can be used to support the Army and the nation. MARV II was recently on display during the USACE Structural Engineering and Technology Symposium, hosted at ERDC’s headquarters in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Learn more about MARV II from William Butler, chief of CHL’s Field Data Collection and Analysis Branch.

DamBot Displays New Robotic Arm | The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) hosted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Structural Engineering and Technology Symposium, which included technology displays from ERDC’s research laboratories, USACE centers of expertise, and USACE Districts and Divisions. Among the displays was the appearance of DamBot, a robotic system developed by ERDC that takes the human element out of the dangerous but necessary task of assessing and inspecting earth dam outlet works. Learn more about DamBot, and the recent edition of its 17-foot robotic arm developed alongside HDT Global, from Dr. Anton Netchaev, a research scientist with ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory.

DamBot Displays New Robotic Arm | The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) hosted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Structural Engineering and Technology Symposium, which included technology displays from ERDC’s research laboratories, USACE centers of expertise, and USACE Districts and Divisions. Among the displays was the appearance of DamBot, a robotic system developed by ERDC that takes the human element out of the dangerous but necessary task of assessing and inspecting earth dam outlet works. Learn more about DamBot, and the recent edition of its 17-foot robotic arm developed alongside HDT Global, from Dr. Anton Netchaev, a research scientist with ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory.

As missions evolve for the U.S. military, so have the requirements for Airfield Damage Repair or ADR. The Department of Defense’s existing ADR capability requires significant manpower, equipment, and pre-positioned material at key bases. But under its new adaptive basing concept of operations, ADR will need to be lighter and more agile. Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory collaborated with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) and the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) to develop an Expedient and Expeditionary Airfield Damage Repair (E-ADR) solution to deliver just enough, just in time solutions for the Warfighter. Their efforts culminated in a multi-year joint capability technology demonstration, or JCTD, and military utility assessment at McEntire Air National Guard Base, South Carolina.

As missions evolve for the U.S. Military, so have the requirements for Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). The Department of Defense’s existing ADR capability requires significant manpower, equipment and pre-positioned material at key bases. But under its new adaptive basing concept of operations, the military’s ADR capability will need to be lighter and more agile. Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory collaborated with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) and the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) to develop an Expedient and Expeditionary Airfield Damage Repair (E-ADR) solution to deliver just enough, just in time solutions for the Warfighter.

As missions evolve for the U.S. Military, so have the requirements for Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). The Department of Defense’s existing ADR capability requires significant manpower, equipment and pre-positioned material at key bases. But under its new adaptive basing concept of operations, the military’s ADR capability will need to be lighter and more agile. Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory collaborated with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) and the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) to develop an Expedient and Expeditionary Airfield Damage Repair (E-ADR) solution to deliver just enough, just in time solutions for the Warfighter.

Army acquisition of mobility systems such as wheeled and tracked vehicles can be a lengthy process often driven by changing requirements and budgets. Over the last several decades of ERDC’s mobility research, we have played a critical part in the entire acquisition process using mobility modeling and simulation tools. These tools have helped the Army define requirements and test vehicle designs against those requirements in many different operational environments. For acquisition stakeholders, this could lead to accelerated decision making and cost savings in the absence of physical testing.

Army acquisition of mobility systems such as wheeled and tracked vehicles can be a lengthy process often driven by changing requirements and budgets. Over the last several decades of ERDC’s mobility research, we have played a critical part in the entire acquisition process using mobility modeling and simulation tools. These tools have helped the Army define requirements and test vehicle designs against those requirements in many different operational environments. For acquisition stakeholders, this could lead to accelerated decision making and cost savings in the absence of physical testing.

During bouts of severe weather, including tropical storms and hurricanes, coastal dune systems provide crucial protection for coastal communities, but these dunes can be torn apart by high winds and strong surf. The very surf that at times causes damage is also delivering natural materials that may prove to be the key to a more resilient dune system. Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, along with partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District and The University of Southern Mississippi, are developing methods to use this natural material – known as wrack – to build coastal dunes crucial to protecting the coastline during hazardous weather events like hurricanes. As part of the USACE Regional Sediment Management Program, researchers are conducting a field study in which wrack that washes up on the beach is collected and placed on existing dunes to incrementally increase dune stability. Harness the Power of ERDC at ERDCInfo@usace.army.mil

Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineer Laboratory partners with the U.S. Coast Guard's Research and Development Center and the Environmental Protection Agency to test an aerial drone to determine how effective the device is for measuring air quality and environmental impact of burning oil on water. The aerial drone is a new means of capturing these measurements, and CRREL is one of the few federal agencies with the knowledge, permissions, licenses, and facilities to accommodate in situ burns.

Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineer Laboratory partners with the U.S. Coast Guard's Research and Development Center and the Environmental Protection Agency to test an aerial drone to determine how effective the device is for measuring air quality and environmental impact of burning oil on water. The aerial drone is a new means of capturing these measurements, and CRREL is one of the few federal agencies with the knowledge, permissions, licenses, and facilities to accommodate in situ burns.

The Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the University of Beirut tested a new device designed by the University of Beirut which measures oil thickness on water. Measuring the thickness of oil is important so that agencies responding to an oil spill know what the best means of cleaning up the spill. CRREL is one of the few federal agencies with the knowledge, permissions, licenses, facilities, and people to accommodate this type of type of testing.

The Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the University of Beirut tested a new device designed by the University of Beirut which measures oil thickness on water. Measuring the thickness of oil is important so that agencies responding to an oil spill know what the best means of cleaning up the spill. CRREL is one of the few federal agencies with the knowledge, permissions, licenses, facilities, and people to accommodate this type of type of testing.