#21: Enhanced Terrain Processing

Power of ERDC

#Science #Tech #Government #U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC #Development Center (ERDC #U.S. Army Engineer Research

39:50

The truth is out West! We’re hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower. Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing , beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials. Maybe you’ll even decide for yourself: Is Earth a tourist stop for spaceships? UFO hot spots you’ll encounter in this episode: - UFO Watchtower (near Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado) - Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51, Nevada - Extraterrestrial Highway (aka State Route 375), Nevada - Little A’Le’Inn, ET Highway, Nevada - E.T. Fresh Jerky, ET Highway, Nevada - Alien Research Center, ET Highway, Nevada - The Black Mailbox, ET Highway, Nevada Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group .…

3 years ago 38:42

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Soldiers are often forced to operate using outdated geospatial data that may not accurately represent current ground conditions. This creates challenges when trying to find the best possible routes for troop maneuvers or when selecting helicopter landing zones. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is developing a series of tools to solve this problem. These tools enable Army geospatial engineers to rapidly process new remotely sensed imagery from a variety of sources and use it to analyze current terrain conditions. Processes that once took hours can now be completed in seconds or minutes, and with higher accuracy, giving the Warfighter superior situational awareness and knowledge of the operational environment. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we discuss this project with Nikki Wayant, research geographer at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory and task lead for the Enhanced Terrain Processing effort. We discuss the challenges caused by outdated geospatial data (3:17), the wide range of tools and terrain analysis products available through the Enhanced Terrain Processing effort (14:55), how these tools allow data to be combined in new ways (18:37, 23:32) and how they enable mission success (12:48). We also talk about the relationship with the Army Geospatial Center’s Military Support Team and how it enables better products (20:23), when the tools will be available to Soldiers (20:06), how the effort has evolved through machine learning (30:16), and what the future holds for it (31:58). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

33 episodes

#21: Enhanced Terrain Processing

Power of ERDC

published 3 years ago

MP3•Episode home

33 episodes

#Science #Tech #Government #U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC #Development Center (ERDC #U.S. Army Engineer Research

All episodes

1
#32: Muddy: A mapping robot for extreme environments 38:50

7 weeks ago38:50

38:50

A low-cost unmanned ground vehicle capable of producing 3D maps, the Muddy robot has solved a variety of mapping challenges since 2017. Developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Muddy is often used to test more expansive robotic platforms and to enable other projects. Its combination of autonomous navigation, affordability and flexibility makes it an ideal system to validate new technologies and to operate in dangerous, extreme or difficult to access environments – giving Warfighters superior situational awareness of the battlespace and a platform that can support missions across any domain. We discuss Muddy with Dr. Garry Glaspell, a research chemist at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory who has worked with the robot since its first days. We talk about Muddy’s creation and maturation (4:06), its capabilities (12:42) and the programs it has supported (15:04). We also discuss how Muddy got its name (24:52), the lessons learned from various field tests (33:14) and what modifications are on the wish list (36:29). For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#31: Wellbot: An innovative system to maintain relief wells 30:29

20 weeks ago30:29

30:29

The nation’s levees and dams depend upon relief wells to alleviate underground pressure when water levels are high. However, microorganisms and natural chemicals in the water gradually leave a residue that clogs the wells’ porous screen walls, reducing their practical value and increasing the risk of dam or levee failure. Existing maintenance methods are costly, dangerous and labor intensive. To improve this process, ERDC has developed an autonomous system that can clean relief wells in a safer and more cost-effective manner. Wellbot uses ultraviolet light and an oscillating wire brush to remove biofilm and chemical scale from the well screen. Costing about $5,000, the reusable system can be programmed to treat a relief well in days and then deployed to treat another. We discuss Wellbot with Taylor Rycroft, a research environmental engineer at ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory. We talk about relief wells (2:51), the current challenges of maintaining them (6:57), and what led to the development of Wellbot (18:48). We also discuss Wellbot’s capabilities (10:30), the collaborative effort that launched it (19:49) and other ways this technology can be applied (26:43). For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#30: Oil on Ice: Improving spill response in frigid regions 38:04

32 weeks ago38:04

38:04

The environmental and economic toll of large-scale oil spills, such as the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon incidents, can linger for decades. That’s why research into better techniques and technologies for rapidly responding to these disasters is critical. One aspect of oil spill response that requires particular attention is the effect of ice and frigid temperatures, which can change oil properties and make the substance more difficult to locate or extract. Through the world-class expertise and facilities at its Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), ERDC has developed a unique capability to enable in-depth research into mitigating oil spills on ice. As ERDC collaborates with partners to find these innovative solutions, first responders will be better equipped to have the greatest impact should a disaster occur. We discuss ERDC’s oil-on-ice research with Kate Trubac, a research general engineer at CRREL. We talk with Kate about the challenges of oil spill cleanup (3:34), how icy conditions make it even more difficult (4:26), and why it is important to study this topic (6:27). We also discuss ERDC’s role in this research (9:30, 10:52), how it supports a variety of strategies (18:01), its collaboration with partners (9:49), and what the future holds (35:12). For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#29: Underkeel Clearance: Quantifying demand for USACE dredging 39:17

42 weeks ago39:17

39:17

The ships calling upon U.S. ports have grown larger, and navigation channels must be dredged to greater depths to handle them. However, dredging is expensive, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) needs more data-driven tools to prioritize limited resources more efficiently. Responding to this need, ERDC developed Underkeel Clearance. Applying newly available ship location data and combining it with other data points, this metric directly measures how often ship keels approach the bottom of a channel. By analyzing how ships are using the dredging USACE already provides and highlighting the areas with the highest volume of ships with limited clearance, Underkeel Clearance gives USACE waterway managers new insight to better quantify channel maintenance requirements. The project falls under the USACE Coastal Inlets Research Program. We discuss Underkeel Clearance with Dr. David Young and Dr. Brandan Scully, research civil engineers at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. Topics include how dredging decisions have traditionally been made (3:07), how Underkeel Clearance can improve this methodology (5:33) and surprises that have emerged as researchers began analyzing Underkeel Clearance data (14:46). We also talk about how this tool could change USACE dredging operations (17:23), other use cases of this data (21:32) and what the future holds for the effort (33:47). For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#28: Advanced manufacturing: Using 3D printing, new materials and optimized designs to produce large-scale components 52:43

1 year ago52:43

52:43

As America’s civil works infrastructure facilities age beyond their initial design lives, so do the thousands of individual components that keep them functioning. These original components were often fabricated using vintage material and manufacturing methods, making them costly, burdensome and time-consuming to replicate. However, if one of these parts were to suddenly break, that failure could shut down a facility for months, causing significant national economic damage. Faced with this challenge, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is studying how innovative techniques, such as additive manufacturing (large-scale 3D printing), advanced materials and design optimization can be used to replace vintage infrastructure components faster and at a lower cost while maintaining, and even improving, their properties. This research resulted in a recent collaboration with the USACE Detroit District and Lincoln Electric to manufacture the largest U.S. civil works infrastructure component produced by a 3D printer – a 12-foot-long, 6,000-pound metal part for the ship arrestor system on the Poe Lock, one of two active locks on the Soo Locks facility. We discuss ERDC’s advanced manufacturing research with Dr. Robert Moser and Dr. Zack McClelland from ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. Moser is a Senior Scientific Technical Manager for Materials, Manufacturing and Structures, and McClelland is a research mechanical engineer. We talk about the existing state of aging infrastructure and the role additive manufacturing can play to meet this challenge (3:49), how ERDC became involved in 3D printing and how that capability has evolved (7:09), ERDC’s focus areas for advanced manufacturing R&D (11:36), and the project to manufacture the largest U.S. civil works infrastructure component produced by a 3D printer (18:40). We also discuss how ERDC is working to overcome some of the challenges of 3D-printing large infrastructure components (25:27), how ERDC’s high-performance computing capability boosts this effort (28:49), how it has benefitted from military research (39:02) and what the future holds (49:11). For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#27: RAIL: Making it easier to transport armored vehicles to austere locations 36:19

2 years ago36:19

36:19

Despite modern transportation advancements, rail remains a superior method for moving heavy military equipment over vast inland distances. However, transporting tanks by train requires railyard facilities with specialized equipment capable of moving the armored vehicles onto and off of the rail cars. In response, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL), a transportable ramp system that allows military vehicles to be onloaded or offloaded anywhere along a rail line. A collaboration between ERDC and the Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), RAIL will provide greater operational flexibility to quickly transport armored vehicles where they are most needed. We talk about RAIL with Justin Strickler, chief of the Engineering Systems and Materials Division at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. Topics discussed include the importance of trains to a modernized U.S. force (3:29) and how RAIL can improve current practice for loading and off-loading heavy armored vehicles (4:48) and enable more agile power projection for U.S. and Allied Forces (8:16). We also discuss the system’s versatility (16:50), how it was developed in collaboration with GVSC (21:12) by rapidly adapting technology for offloading battle tanks at damaged seaport facilities (11:18), and how the effort has leveraged ERDC’s deep expertise in force projection (30:32). For more information on RAIL, contact Strickler at Justin.S.Strickler (at) usace.army.mil. For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#26: Sand Boil Filter: A more efficient tool to combat internal levee erosion 29:53

2 years ago29:53

29:53

When river levels rise, so does the threat of sand boils, which occur when water bubbles out of the ground near the base of a levee, surrounded by a mound of displaced soil. Caused by increased pressure, sand boils are a visible sign of erosion within a levee. And unless they are treated immediately, these sand boils will grow and more sediment will be displaced, escalating the risk of a catastrophic breach. However, the current method for fighting sand boils is difficult, expensive and dangerous, requiring hundreds of sandbags. To simplify this cumbersome process, ERDC researchers have developed a special lightweight filter that can be inserted into a sand boil to alleviate the pressure and stop the erosion. A single person could install it in about 15 minutes, allowing personnel to alleviate multiple sand boils more safely and efficiently – providing greater protection to our nation’s critical levee systems and the lives and livelihoods they defend. We discuss these Sand Boil Filter kits with Samantha Lucker, a research geologist with ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. We talk about why sand boils must be promptly addressed (5:04), and how ERDC’s new filters will improve on the current process (7:56) and enable better levee management (9:04). We also discuss how this effort started (17:00), how it builds on ERDC’s deep expertise in studying the Mississippi River (22:54), and how researchers are improving the filter’s design (21:00) to increase its usage (25:23). For more information on these Sand Boil Filter kits, contact Lucker at Samantha.L.Lucker (at) usace.army.mil. For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

1
#25: CorpsCam: Enabling more proactive coastal management through real-time monitoring and data 43:33

2 years ago43:33

43:33

Monitoring large and constantly changing coastlines can be expensive, time consuming and dangerous. Traditional surveying methods are also limited because they only provide a single snapshot in time and don’t capture the full picture. As a result, coastal managers don’t always have the information they need to understand dynamic coastal conditions and plan projects that preserve our nation’s coasts, protect the environment, and support the economy. To overcome this knowledge gap, ERDC launched CorpsCam, which uses remote video technology to better monitor federal beach and other coastal projects. CorpsCam can rapidly analyze a variety of images, from cellphone pictures uploaded by citizen scientists to scientific-grade video captured by high-end cameras, to provide hourly data on beach state, erosion rates, bathymetry, wave parameters and more. It is enabling better project designs and more proactive coastal management. Joining us to talk about CorpsCam are Dr. Brittany Bruder, Dr. Ian Conery and Sean McGill from ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL). Bruder is a research coastal engineer based at CHL’s Field Research Facility (FRF) on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and Conery is a research oceanographer based at the FRF. McGill is a research physical scientist at CHL’s Vicksburg location. Topics include what CorpsCam is and how it can improve coastal resilience (4:06), how it got started (18:50), and the types of locations the effort is targeting (12:48). We also talk about ERDC’s Field Research Facility and its capabilities (22:21) and growing military portfolio (26:36). And we discuss past CorpsCam projects (28:11) and what lies ahead for this effort (39:06). For more information on CorpsCam, visit https://coastalimaging.erdc.dren.mil/CorpsCam or email Bruder at Brittany.L.Bruder (at) usace.army.mil. For more information on the Power of ERDC podcast, visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org .…

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#24: Providing Supercomputing Resources to Enable DOD Problem Solving 25:24

2 years ago25:24

25:24

We talk with Dr. Ben Parsons, chief technology officer with the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP), about how the program enables the Department of Defense (DOD) to solve its most critical mission challenges. Managed by ERDC, the HPCMP delivers world-class high-performance computing and expertise to DOD engineers and scientists. Its five DOD Supercomputing Resource Centers are spread throughout the country and deliver 7.8 billion processor hours of computing power each year to support some of the world’s largest computational projects. The program provides the DOD research and acquisition communities access to insight that would otherwise be too costly, dangerous, or time intensive to obtain through observation and experiment alone. We talk with Ben about why supercomputing is important to the DOD research community (4:14), ERDC’s role in the HPCMP (6:18), and how much combined computing power the program provides to DOD researchers (8:43). We also discuss specific projects that have been enabled by the HPCMP (13:44, 16:30), how it improves DOD acquisition efforts (15:25), how the team ensures the program remains on the cutting edge as computer technology continuously evolves (13:03) and what lies ahead on the HPCMP’s horizon (22:25). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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#23: Arctic Mobility 45:10

2 years ago45:10

45:10

We talk with Dr. Orian Welling and Mr. Michael Parker from ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory about how ERDC’s cold weather mobility expertise will directly help the U.S. military better protect and defend the Arctic. As the Arctic grows in strategic importance to the United States, the region also presents unique challenges to military mobility. Heavy duty tires designed for rugged terrains don’t handle as well on cold, slick surfaces. And ice and snow aren’t the only challenges facing military vehicles in Arctic environments. In fact, mobility becomes even more difficult during the spring months when frozen ground begins to thaw, and the terrain is transformed into a muddy, swampy quagmire. ERDC’s research is enabling better cold weather tires and leading to robust cross-country mobility models that can forecast ice thickness, snow depth and thaw, and predict which vehicles can perform where in Arctic conditions. ERDC is also providing knowledge and developing algorithms and systems that will allow autonomous manned and unmanned systems to navigate in cold regions. We talk with Orian and Mike about how their unique backgrounds contribute to this research (6:41, 30:16), why the Army needs to study Arctic mobility (4:13), the unique challenges of the spring thaw (34:47), and how the expertise of CRREL’s mobility team (8:57) and the laboratory’s world-class specialized facilities (11:27) enable this capability. We also discuss specific projects, such as work on winter tires (16:54), mobility models (25:56) and cold weather autonomy (21:21). And we talk about how the effort benefits from ERDC’s cross-disciplinary research (38:07), as well as from partnerships and international collaboration (40:34). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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#22: Using Augmented and Virtual Reality to Enable Next-Generation Engineering 43:15

2 years ago43:15

43:15

We talk with Jeremy Herring and Kelly Ervin from ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory about how ERDC is enabling next-generation engineering by applying augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities. These disruptive technologies can help solve a diverse range of current and future problems by immersing users in virtual scenes. As uses continue to grow, ERDC established the Dynamic Immersive Virtual Environment laboratory in December 2019 to study how to best apply augmented and virtual reality to help the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies. Their research is producing tools that allow users to clearly visualize problems and proposed solutions, enabling more informed decisions. It will result in better facility and infrastructure planning, improved communication, enhanced construction practices, more robust training opportunities and more. We discuss with Jeremy and Kelly how ERDC’s augmented and virtual reality effort got started (17:48), the transformative benefits offered by these technologies (7:51), and how they can change the way we communicate (15:36). We also talk about ERDC’s unique capabilities (28:05) and past efforts in this space (19:18), how this research can help the military (33:12) and what lies ahead on the cutting edge (38:55). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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#21: Enhanced Terrain Processing 38:42

3 years ago38:42

38:42

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#20: Operational Energy 34:11

3 years ago34:11

34:11

Military operations require large amounts of energy to train, move and sustain forces, as well as to power weapons platforms – and this is known as operational energy. Given the high human toll and financial cost of supplying this energy to frontline forces, new strategies are seeking to electrify the battlefield and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is on the leading edge of efforts to find new ways to power U.S. forces, including innovations in energy storage and power management. By reducing the reliance on fuel resupply, ERDC’s work will save lives and money and will give units more flexibility to extend their operational reach and increase freedom of maneuver, enabling more successful Multi-Domain Operations. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we discuss these efforts with Tom Decker, operational energy program manager at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. We talk about why operational energy is an ERDC priority (4:06), the electrified battlefield concept (4:31), how ERDC’s effort benefits from both the organization’s history (13:10) and Decker’s military background (11:12), and how these efforts have a broader impact than the U.S. Military (19:25, 26:17). We also discuss several ERDC initiatives in this area, including providing data that enables better-informed energy decisions (14:10), hybrid systems that allow tactical generators to provide more power with less fuel (17:46), and a flow battery can energize critical parts of an installation when needed (20:49). And we explore what lies in the art of the possible in terms of operational energy (29:27) and how this effort fits into Multi-Domain Operations and Army modernization concepts (31:03). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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#19: Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations 51:21

3 years ago51:21

51:21

Managing a reservoir is a delicate balancing act. If you keep too much water, there may not be enough storage capacity when heavy rains hit, increasing the risk for catastrophic flooding. If you release too much water, there won’t be enough to supply nearby residents who depend upon the reservoir for their survival. For decades, this process has been guided by water control manuals that dictate when to retain and when to release based on ground conditions. But a new research and operations partnership called Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) uses modern weather and streamflow forecasting to better inform water management decisions. As climate change threatens to bring more extreme floods and droughts, FIRO allows water managers to be as precise and efficient as possible in carefully balancing flood risk management, water supply and environmental needs. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with two leaders of the FIRO effort – Dr. Cary Talbot and Dr. Marty Ralph. Talbot is a division chief at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory and FIRO program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ralph is director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. We talk about atmospheric rivers (4:19) and how better water management in the West depends on better understanding these unique storms (8:00), how the FIRO effort has improved weather forecasting skill in the West (6:53) and the nation (11:11), and how these improved forecasts will enable better water management (18:11). We also discuss how ERDC came to be involved in FIRO (13:01), how the effort has been strengthened by its many partnerships (19:42), and efforts to expand this methodology throughout the nation (31:03). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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#18: SandSnap 39:50

3 years ago39:50

39:50

Knowing the size of sand grains on the nation’s beaches is important to many coastal management efforts. However, getting that information is labor intensive, and no nationwide database of sand grain size currently exists. To fill this void, ERDC has launched SandSnap, a collaborative effort to engage citizen scientists in a project that will build that database and directly make our coastlines more resilient to the effects of storms and changing climates. Participants are asked to take a photo of the sand on their next beach trip, with a U.S. coin placed in the photo as a point of reference. Those photos can be uploaded to https://sandsnap-erdcchl.hub.arcgis.com, where a deep learning neural network will analyze the grain size to begin building the database. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with Dr. Brian McFall, research coastal engineer at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory and lead for the SandSnap program. We discuss what SandSnap is and why it matters (3:13), why people should take the time to upload a SandSnap and how their effort will benefit our beaches and our planet (4:46), how SandSnap can make us more resilient to future hurricanes (11:03), the process to take and upload a SandSnap (14:26), the partners that are contributing to this effort (35:07), and how it is energizing a future generation of engineers and scientists (22:52). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information. Visit https://sandsnap-erdcchl.hub.arcgis.com to upload your SandSnap.…

Power of ERDC

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#17: Modernizing the B-52 Through Supercomputing 28:28

3 years ago28:28

28:28

Since entering service in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress has held strategic importance as the most combat capable bomber in the U.S. inventory. However, the newest B-52 dates to 1962, and it has become increasingly difficult to find parts to service its original engines. To keep this valuable aircraft flying, the Air Force embarked on a Commercial Engine Replace Program, or CERP, to replace the current engines with commercial ones that are so maintenance friendly and efficient they will pay for themselves in 10 years. Meeting this goal required a digital infrastructure that would allow designers to rapidly test proposed prototypes to ensure compatibility and catch potential pitfalls. That’s when the Air Force turned to ERDC. Using the Information Technology Laboratory’s Supercomputing Research Center (SRC), ERDC established a virtual ecosystem that integrated numerous design and visualization tools to meet this project’s unique requirements. This enabled the Air Force to select a new engine that will keep the legendary B-52 flying into the 2050s. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with York Yarbro, chief operating officer of the Supercomputing Research Center at ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory. We discuss how ERDC became involved in the effort to replace the B-52 engines (3:51), the unique capabilities ERDC brought to the project (14:26), the benefits of incorporating digital engineering techniques to help designers (4:56), the unique challenges the ERDC team faced and how they overcame them (10:28), and Yarbro’s personal connection to the B-52 modernization effort (15:03). We also talk about ERDC’s Supercomputing Research Center (16:26) and how both the Air Force (24:02) and SRC (25:08) will build off the successes of the B-52 modernization project. Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

Power of ERDC

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#16: Invasive Fisheries 42:53

3 years ago42:53

42:53

Invasive carp species pose a significant threat to native fisheries, disrupting ecological balances, inflicting economic harm and hampering recreational activities. One effort to mitigate this threat is focused on blocking these fish from entering the Great Lakes, where they could significantly disrupt a $7-billion fishing industry. Guided by ERDC research, a series of electric barriers was placed along a key navigable link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. ERDC continues to study additional methods to prevent carp passage, including the use of sound or carbon dioxide bubbles. ERDC’s research on this topic is part of a greater effort to protect endangered species in our nation’s waterways and manage invasive species in our fisheries. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with Alan Katzenmeyer, chief of the Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species branch at ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory. We discuss why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is involved in managing invasive and endangered species (6:32), why there is so much focus on invasive carp and some of the research ERDC is doing in that area (8:30), and ERDC’s research that led to the electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System (13:50). We also talk about other ERDC projects to manage invasive and endangered species in our fisheries (17:26), ERDC’s history in this research (28:05), how ERDC is uniquely situated to undertake this research (36:22) and what the future holds for it (38:47). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

Power of ERDC

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#15: Joint Planning Services 34:18

3 years ago34:18

34:18

It can take months or years for the Department of Defense to develop strategic and operational plans, with people, information and tools often scattered and stove-piped into silos. ERDC researchers have been working to develop a digital map-based environment for remote collaboration in near real time, enabling faster and more complete military planning to support timely and better-informed command decisions. The Joint Planning Services (JPS) platform allows access to dozens of authoritative live data feeds, with integrated tools to process and analyze the data, and meaningful ways to visualize the results. It also enables seamless coordination across echelons, organizations and warfighting functions. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with JPS program manager Reggie Hammond from ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory in Alexandria, Virginia. We discuss how JPS is revolutionizing military planning (2:38), why ERDC is developing this capability (5:08 & 15:11), what is unique about the JPS platform (16:43), how the Joint Forces can benefit from JPS (24:14), how the technology can be used on the civil works side (27:06), and more. Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

Power of ERDC

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#14: Airfield Damage Repair 40:52

3 years ago40:52

40:52

Given the strategic importance of air power in military conflicts, airfields often become targets. With airfield expertise that dates to World War II, ERDC has a rich history of developing solutions to rapidly repair and sustain airfields. Today, ERDC develops material and equipment solutions, as well as construction procedures, to push current Airfield Damage Repair capabilities and adapt them to changing missions and aircraft. These efforts are directly helping the U.S. and its Allies establish and maintain air superiority, allowing the Warfighter to gain advantage and accomplish the mission. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with Jeb Tingle, a Senior Scientific Technical Manager at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory and lead for ERDC’s Airfield Damage Repair program. We discuss how ERDC came to be involved in airfields research and how those efforts have evolved through the years (3:20), why airfield damage repair is an important area of concern for the military (6:17), how the challenges have changed (16:11), how ERDC is uniquely situated to undertake this research that benefits all Services (22:03), civil works applications (28:58), and more. Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

Power of ERDC

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#13: Permafrost Basic Research 40:20

3 years ago40:20

40:20

Permafrost, or ground that has been frozen for at least two years, covers roughly a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere. And it is teeming with microbes, including many with unique characteristics that have allowed them to adapt to extremely low temperatures and survive for decades. As climate change threatens to thaw permafrost and revive these microbial multitudes, ERDC is conducting extensive basic research to better understand these tiny organisms, comprehend what will happen when they are activated, and harness their special powers for new technologies. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we talk with Dr. Robyn Barbato, a research microbiologist at ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, about how this research will support military operations in extreme cold regions and will improve our understanding of the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems. We discuss the hidden power of these frozen microorganisms (3:18), why this research is important to the military (6:32), how it can improve the understanding of climate change (7:46), how ERDC’s people (18:05) and world-class facilities (20:10) enable this research, and what the future holds for this effort (35:09). We also explore how these living microbes can be used for various technologies and applications, such as environmental sensing, cleaning contaminants and producing electricity (22:27). Finally, we talk about basic research and what makes it important (12:26). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

Power of ERDC

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#12: Structural Health Monitoring 39:19

3 years ago39:19

39:19

Given the aging condition and economic importance of much of the nation’s navigation infrastructure, asset managers need accurate and real-time information on the conditions of structures operating well beyond their expected design lives. However, visual inspections of structures like locks and dams are often difficult and expensive. ERDC is filling this void with a broad range of structural health monitoring capabilities. It has developed sensors that serve as virtual eyes and ears, providing constant real-time information on structural conditions. Combined with ERDC’s predictive modeling tools – and enhanced by data analytics and machine learning – this capability helps revolutionize and accelerate decision making and better prioritize maintenance funds. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we discuss ERDC’s Structural Health Monitoring program with Dr. Brian Eick and Dr. Matt Smith. Eick is a research civil engineer at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory and the technical lead and program manager for ERDC’s Structural Health Monitoring program. Smith is a technical director at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory and until recently oversaw ERDC’s Structural Health Monitoring efforts. We discuss the broad scope of ways ERDC is working to tackle this problem (13:25), new vision-based monitoring approaches being applied by ERDC (11:22), what makes ERDC a unique place for structural health monitoring R&D (21:46), ways each of ERDC’s seven laboratories are involved in this effort and the power of that cross-disciplinary collaboration (24:21), and other current and potential future uses of ERDC’s structural health monitoring tools (31:40). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.…

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