Power of ERDC

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, our nation needed new ways to protect its civilians and Warfighters, and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center answered the call. Leveraging its long history of studying explosive effects and protective structures, ERDC has played a vital role in providing protection solutions throughout the past 20 years. When our Armed Forces and Allies faced changing threats during the Global War on Terror, ERDC wrote new force protection guidelines, delivered decision-support tools to provide clarity in unfamiliar scenarios, and developed rapidly deployable protective structures. As the nation remembers the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, we talk with technical directors Pam Kinnebrew and Nick Boone from ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory about their memories of that day, how it motivated ERDC to provide solutions, and the research that saved countless Warfighter and civilian lives. We discuss what was unique about the force protection challenges that arose in Afghanistan and Iraq (7:54), how ERDC leveraged past research to help meet these challenges (8:58), the solutions ERDC developed (14:08), the intense operational tempo that followed the 9/11 attacks (25:43), and how the lessons learned during the past 20 years can be applied to future force protection challenges (32:24). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

Unmanned ground vehicles carry great potential for the Armed Forces, but before these systems can be deployed, they must undergo rigorous testing to ensure their autonomy can be trusted in difficult conditions. Since the early 2000s, ERDC has assisted this process by developing a suite of modeling and simulation tools that explore how autonomous systems will handle a diverse range of challenges that are often difficult to replicate with physical testing. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we are joined by Dr. Gabe Monroe, a research mechanical engineer at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. We talk with Gabe about how ERDC’s research is accelerating unmanned ground vehicle development, increasing their combat effectiveness, and ultimately saving Warfighter lives. We will delve into ERDC’s long-established expertise in mobility modeling (4:18), why the military needs robust modeling and simulation for unmanned ground vehicles (10:49), the importance of exploring edge cases that supplement physical testing (14:52), ERDC’s partnership with the Ground Vehicle Systems Center (28:39), and how ERDC’s suite of modeling and simulation technologies can benefit other branches of the Armed Forces (29:58). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

Harmful algal blooms occur in freshwater when aquatic microorganisms, called cyanobacteria, grow rapidly and sometimes release toxins that are dangerous to humans and aquatic life. Such events have been known to compromise drinking water reservoirs, disrupt recreation, shut down fisheries, and kill fish, birds and other aquatic species. And scientists largely agree that these events are happening more often and in more diverse locations. Current federal policy identifies harmful algal blooms as one of the most complex and economically damaging aquatic issues threatening the nation’s ecosystems. The 2018 Water Resources Development Act authorized ERDC to implement a five-year technology research program to deliver scalable technologies for harmful algal bloom detection, prevention and management. On the latest episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jen Seiter-Moser and Molly Reif from ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory to talk about the key role ERDC is playing in solving this critical national challenge. Seiter-Moser, an ERDC technical director overseeing Civil Works Environmental Engineering and Sciences, discusses the scope of ERDC’s research. Reif, the Geospatial Data Analysis team lead, details a specific project that enables researchers and water managers to use remote sensing technologies to quickly detect the presence of water quality indicators of blooms in small, inland bodies of water. Topics discussed on today’s episode include why ERDC is involved in studying this issue (6:50), the importance of partnerships (8:16), the scope of ERDC’s harmful algal bloom research (10:07), a project that uses remote sensing to detect the presence of blooms (14:40), why that project has resonated so much (19:02), and ways ERDC is able to leverage cross-disciplinary expertise in discovering solutions for harmful algal blooms (25:51).  Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

The blockage of Egypt’s Suez Canal in March shone renewed focus on just how many goods are shipped around the world and how fragile those routes can be. Given the shipping industry’s importance in the U.S., American planners must have world-class tools to prevent a comparable disaster from congesting American waterways. ERDC has operated a ship simulator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since the late 1980s to model the maneuverability of large ships through our nation’s ports and harbors. Benefitting from ERDC’s superior numerical modeling expertise, the simulator simulates how vessels respond to a variety of environmental forces. It gives planners the ability to see potential problems in a virtual environment, modify designs and retest to come up with the best plans for a given port. Given its years of success in simulating our nation’s waterways, the versatile simulator is now being used by the military to plan and train for amphibious operations around the world. We are joined by Dr. Keith Martin, a research physicist at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory and lead of the Ship Simulator program, to talk about how ERDC is enabling safer waterways, better and more efficient port designs, and better military operations planning. We discuss ERDC’s unique capabilities in ship simulation (8:48), how this technology is being used for both civil works (7:06) and military projects (12:05), how ship simulation can benefit the military (12:48), how it is being paired with ERDC’s ground vehicle simulation technology (16:59), and the expertise ERDC offers (24:02). We also talk about a successful feasibility study involving the port of Long Beach, in which ERDC’s ship simulator was able to identify design flaws and rapidly enable new safer designs (24:39). ERDC is offering a special webinar on June 23 for members of the U.S. military to learn more about the ship simulator’s capabilities to solve tough challenges. Email [email protected] to register or for more information. Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

The rapid accumulation of ice creates significant challenges for U.S. military operations and civilian activities in cold environments. It hampers mobility, disrupts communication, creates power outages and degrades infrastructure. That’s why a team of ERDC researchers is conducting innovative basic research to unravel the physical processes of how ice attaches to different surfaces, paving the way for the future development of advanced protective coating materials and the expansion of existing treatments to broader applications. On this episode of the Power of ERDC podcast, we are joined by Dr. Emily Asenath-Smith, a research materials engineer at ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire. We discuss why CRREL is the perfect place to conduct this research (3:04), the importance of studying ice adhesion (3:51), basic research and why it matters (4:32), how this research will help the military (11:07), the unique method used by the research team to grow ice (19:08) and long-term practical applications (17:10). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

As Global Positioning System, or GPS, technology becomes more commonplace, so does its usage by the Armed Forces in preparing for and executing battleplans. However, there has also been a growing trend of adversaries using technologies to jam or spoof these signals. This created a need to provide mapping capabilities for use in GPS-denied environments. New ERDC research is solving this challenge with technology that can instantly process 3D data collected from various sensors the Warfighters are wearing and use it to navigate them without the need for GPS. On today’s episode, we talk about mapping in GPS-denied environments with Dr. Ricky Massaro, a physical scientist at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory. Topics include an explanation of GPS technologies and what makes them so important (5:24), providing situational awareness in GPS-denied environments (7:14), what is novel about this technology (13:04), the extensive work being done with multiple Army Cross Functional Teams and other partners (13:46), and efforts to provide more realistic mission rehearsal scenarios (15:56). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information.

The importance of cybersecurity continues to increase, both as more functions become connected to the internet and as adversaries exploit cyberattacks as a weapon in future conflicts. From the SolarWinds Orion hack to the breach of a Florida water treatment plant, recent attacks have underscored the critical function cybersecurity plays to national security interests. ERDC is playing a key role in the efforts to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity. It protects the Defense Research and Engineering Network, safeguarding the intellectual property of defense labs across the United States and the world. ERDC also performs independent assessments of cybersecurity controls, conducts research to discover innovative cyber-protection strategies, and performs adversarial emulation to proactively identify and mediate vulnerabilities and security weaknesses for the Army, DOD and federal agencies. On today’s episode, we talk cyber security with Chris Callahan, the chief of the Cybersecurity Engineering and Analysis Branch at ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory. Topics include lessons from the SolarWinds Orion breach (4:39), the dangers hacking can pose to critical infrastructure (6:30), the importance of cybersecurity to national security (10:59), ways smaller entities can improve cybersecurity (12:02), ERDC’s cybersecurity niche (13:30), white-hat hackers (18:29), and things everyone can do at home to secure their networks (24:37). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for more information. LINKS: CyberPatriot  youth education program (https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/) DOD Bug Bounty Program/ Hack the Pentagon program (https://www.hackerone.com/hack-the-pentagon) Scholarship for Service program designed to recruit and train next generation of cyber security professionals (https://www.sfs.opm.gov/)

The nature of military bases is changing throughout the Armed Services. New defense doctrine increases their strategic importance for projecting power and for protecting Warfighters from emerging unconventional threats. Meanwhile, leaders desire more modernized facilities that will improve quality of life, keep pace with smart city technologies, and minimize their environmental footprint. ERDC is developing new technologies to help meet these goals. And many of those technologies are being put to the test during an ambitious rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base, which was devastated by Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018. ERDC is playing a key role in the effort to re-imagine Tyndall’s future, and it will learn valuable lessons that can be applied to installations across the Army and the Armed Services. On today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Buddy Bartels, a research civil engineer at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. Buddy discusses how today’s ERDC research is enabling tomorrow’s Installations of the Future. Topics include the changing nature of installations (4:55), ERDC’s involvement in the Tyndall rebuild (10:00), ERDC’s Virtual Testbed for Installation Mission Effectiveness (11:23), and the breadth of ERDC’s involvement in the Installations of the Future effort (18:49). Visit https://www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org for resources and more information.

The intensity and frequency of wildfires in the United States is increasing, bringing immense devastation that is compounded by a lesser-known threat. Flood risks also increase exponentially after a wildfire due to sediment hazards, vegetation loss, soil changes and the reduced capacity of reservoirs. Destructive debris floods can be 1,000-times larger than pre-wildfire floods. In the past, a limited understanding of this increased risk left fire-torn communities particularly vulnerable to flooding. New research and improved modeling are critical to better manage the impact of debris flows, save lives, and protect infrastructure and property. That’s why a team of ERDC researchers is developing new modeling techniques that accurately predict the areas at highest risk for deadly debris flows. On today’s episode of the Power of ERDC Podcast, we are joined by Ian Floyd, a research physical scientist at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. Co-hosts Megan Holland and Chris Kieffer talk with Ian about how ERDC is working to solve the challenges presented by post-wildfire floods. Ian discusses what makes it so difficult to model and predict post-wildfire flooding (3:55), the new science his team is using (6:33), how ERDC is able to help communities better manage these increased flood threats (10:18), military applications (18:20), how prepared the country is to face the current post-wildfire flood season (16:53), and more. Visit https://poweroferdcpodcast.org/podcast-deep-dive-post-wildfire-flood-risk-management for resources and more information.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has been solving the nation’s toughest challenges for more than 90 years. Now, you can go behind the scenes as some of our nation’s smartest engineers and scientists solve complex problems across ERDC’s broad Civil Works and military mission space. Introducing the new “Power of ERDC” podcast, now available in all major podcast players and at https://www.powerofERDCpodcast.org. New episodes will be released each month and will dive into a different ERDC research project that is solving a pressing a problem, including interviews with the researchers to explain how they are discovering, developing and delivering cutting-edge solutions that make the world safer and better. Satisfy your curiosity and join us on a problem-solving journey as we unravel the nation’s toughest science and engineering challenges.