Power of ERDC

On the modern battlefield, supplying essential power and water in austere environments is a major logistical challenge. The effort to quickly develop and deploy essential technologies to provide these “liquid logistics” is at the forefront of several ERDC research programs and projects. Leading that effort are the world-class research teams at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL). Leveraging the laboratory’s unique capabilities and facilities, these teams are accelerating the development, testing and deployment of transformative technologies.  Their work is reshaping the logistical landscape for our military, while enhancing Soldier safety and the ability of U.S. forces to operate and dominate in any environment. Dr. Andy Nelson, director of CERL, provides a high-level perspective on the operational energy and water programs currently underway.  In the discussion, he explains operational energy and water (1:33), how CERL became a world-leader in these research areas (3:34), and how some of CERL’s unique facilities provide critical Soldier touchpoints for new technologies (7:41). He also covers how interconnected water and energy are in combat environments (9:55) and why there is a strong push for these critical solutions now (11:39). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/53-Liquid-Logistics_video.

Mike Forte, a research physical scientist at ERDC’s Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, North Carolina, calls himself and his team “custodians” of the data continuously collected at the research facility. The team’s care for the data, collection methods and validation and preparation efforts have made this data a national treasure. Decades of data sets from constant observation of the coastline through sensors, cameras, surveys and more have shaped and advanced coastal engineering, supported the development of new ocean and storm models, and given our military a decisive edge in coastal, littoral and amphibious operations. Forte pulls back the curtain on the scope of the facility’s data collection, the partnerships with national and global research organizations, and the effort to document and best tell the scientific stories of massive storms along our nation’s Atlantic Coast. Topics discussed include how the team responded to and captured data from a record-setting nor’easter in January (02:16); the FRF’s suite of data collection techniques and technologies for capturing coastal processes (5:14); and the critical role the facility’s unique pier plays in collecting, validating and verifying that data (9:22). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/52-FRF-data-is-a-national-treasure_video. You can also see additional resources at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/52-FRF-data-is-a-national-treasure_resources.

Preparing the Army to solve tomorrow’s challenges is an incredibly complex endeavor. For ERDC researchers striving to provide answers to questions that aren’t yet known, gaming techniques have proven to be a useful tool. Gamification provides a method to digest vast information into usable outcomes with infinite possibilities, while also collaborating with and learning from other subject matter experts. We explore how ERDC research is strengthened by gaming techniques combined with nearly a century of engineering and scientific expertise. Our guests are Dr. Mihan House McKenna Taylor, Josh Church and Jared Brock. Taylor is Army Senior Research Scientist for Near Surface Phenomenology; Church leads the Scientific Software Branch at ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL); and Brock is a computer scientist in ITL’s Scientific Software Branch. Topics include ERDC’s experience in using gaming and game theory to help build out capabilities and support the Army mission (4:05), what makes gamification an effective method to plan for unknown future scenarios (11:53) and the unique capabilities ERDC offers in this space (15:29). We also discuss how gaming techniques can help inform future acquisitions and lead to better investments (18:34), how they can improve the development of new technology (23:58) and how Artificial Intelligence can change the way these strategic exercises are conducted (28:51). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/51-gaming-the-future_video. You can also see additional resources at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/51-gaming-the-future_resources.

ERDC researchers recently discovered 26 new species of microorganisms frozen in permafrost that was approximately 40,000 years old. Studying the properties of these new species could unlock capabilities with the potential to support U.S. military operations in extreme cold regions. We discuss this discovery with Dr. Robyn Barbato, a senior research microbiologist and the leader of the soil microbiology team at the ERDC Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. Topics include how studying microorganisms and finding new species can help the U.S. Army (1:20), potential technologies or applications that could emerge from this research (4:20) and how the team made its discovery (8:00). We also talk about the unique process for extracting these samples (13:01), Barbato’s work on a U.S. Department of War community of interest that examines biotechnology (21:33) and the capabilities offered by ERDC’s ICE COLD library of permafrost microbes (29:18). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/50-permafrost-microorganisms_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/50-permafrost-microorganisms_resources.

Even in the age of supercomputing, engineers still demand tangible models to fully understand the complex interaction between coastal infrastructure and dynamic ocean forces. ERDC has nearly a century of expertise in building scaled representations of real-world systems and testing them to evaluate civil works and military project designs. We discuss ERDC’s coastal physical modeling capabilities with Dr. Duncan Bryant, a senior research hydraulic engineer with ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. Topics include the need for physical modeling and its role alongside other coastal engineering tools (4:05), how ERDC improves Joint Force readiness by testing ship-to-shore logistics (8:24) and how models help engineers design better coastal defenses for improved resilience (12:00). We also discuss how ERDC’s facilities (16:20), capabilities (23:26) and master craftsmen (21:28) enable this work; how it is collaborating with industry and academia (26:50); and how ERDC is working to solve tomorrow’s coastal challenges (28:25). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/49-coastal-physical-modeling_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/49-coastal-physical-modeling_resources.

Built on Automatic Identification System vessel broadcasts and supported by a nationwide network of fixed receiver sites and mobile trailer deployments, the Lock Operations Management Application (LOMA) helps lock operators and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts better understand vessel traffic, anticipate delays and communicate changing conditions to mariners. Dr. Marin Kress of ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory explains how LOMA provides real-time situational awareness across the nation’s inland waterways. Topics include what LOMA is and why it’s more than “just locks” (:48), how AIS works and what the system receives (2:51), and why mobile trailers matter (4:29). We also discuss a success story involving emergency shoaling response and virtual ATONs (5:45); the impact of lock reliability and traffic awareness (13:38); partnerships that power LOMA (14:43); and what’s next in R&D, including weather and water condition sensing (18:00). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/48-LOMA_video. Explore additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/48-LOMA_resources.

What if a tool designed for combat could become a lifeline in the wake of natural disasters? The Battlefield Damage Assessment Tool, a system that provides rapid analysis in combat environments, has been deployed to help first responders allocate key resources more efficiently following wildfires and hurricanes. We discuss the technology and its development with ERDC’s Nikki Wayant and Charlotte Ellison, researchers from the Geospatial Research Laboratory. Topics include how the technology was first used by emergency officials following the 2023 Hawaii wildfires (2:52), how the information helps emergency management officials (5:42), and some of the key data sources the system uses to provide its assessment (7:30). We also discuss how the team’s interdisciplinary makeup enabled a better product (14:35), the tool’s future capabilities (16:28), and the team being named an Innovation of the Year in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (19:58). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/47-battlefield-damage-assessment_video.

We are exploring a pair of unsung teams whose efforts magnify ERDC’s research capabilities. That includes three fabrication shops where master craftsmen – welders, machinists and model makers – turn research concepts into a tangible reality. Meanwhile, ERDC’s Directorate of Public Works, or DPW, is responsible for maintaining the organization’s facilities and infrastructure – including the massive demands for power and water to accommodate large-scale research projects. Together, these teams enable ERDC to execute world-class R&D. Joining us to discuss these unique capabilities are ERDC DPW chief Jonathan Howell and Zach Smith, program manager of ERDC’s R&D fabrication group. Topics include the types of projects supported by ERDC’s master craftsmen (4:25), the unique infrastructure and utility demands at an R&D organization (10:40), and the capabilities found on both teams (19:27). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/46-building-capacity-discovery_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/46-building-capacity-discovery_resources.

Bird strikes are a persistent and costly threat to aviation safety. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 13,000 strikes are reported in the U.S. each year, costing hundreds of millions in damages and endangering both civilian and military aircraft. We are joined by ERDC’s Dr. Jake Jung and Dr. Brian Washburn with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – both research wildlife biologists – to discuss how these two organizations are working to develop innovative tools and techniques to address this complex problem. Among the innovations discussed is the “robot coyote,” a ground-based drone that has shown tremendous potential in helping manage the vast spaces of civilian and military airfields, keeping people and aircraft safe. During this episode, we explore the natural factors that attract birds and other wildlife to airfields (1:34), current techniques and technologies being used to deter them (3:52), and the genesis for the idea that led to the development of the Robot Coyote system (09:16). We also discuss early prototypes and testing of the system (14:03), how the platforms could be deployed on military and civilian airfields across the country (17:29), what capabilities the upgraded version of the Robot Coyotes may have (25:21), and how the story of the Robot Coyotes became a viral sensation during the summer of 2025 (32:01). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/45-robot-coyote_resources.