U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

For more than four decades, a section of beach on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has been the subject of continuous observation, measurements and survey. New coastal engineering technologies have been tested, new procedures proven and, in the process, the data collected has become what some would consider a “national treasure.” Join us for the next Power of ERDC on Tuesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. Central, as we feature the “custodians” of the data collecting capabilities and efforts at ERDC’s Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. Our guest is Mike Forte, a research physical scientist who leads the team that collects, validates and shares critical coastal information helping to shape and accelerate coastal engineering across the world. RSVP to watch the live release of this episode. You can learn more about the Power of ERDC podcast and explore previous episodes at www.PowerofERDCpodcast.org. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #CoastalEngineering #CoastalScience #Data #DataManagement #DataAnalytics #ResearchAndDevelopment #Podcast #Science #Innovation #Technology #Research #NorthCarolina #Engineering

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has unveiled a data-driven solution to overcome the cycle of cost overruns and delays hampering infrastructure modernization. With more than a third of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dam structures in poor condition, the challenge – and this potential solution – is significant. A new quantitative analysis of five USACE megaprojects – including the Charleroi, Chickamauga, Olmsted, Soo and Montgomery projects – reveals that a core challenge is cognitive biases in risk management. The study showed that over-optimism in initial risk assessments, particularly underestimating a risk’s likelihood, can reduce the effectiveness of mitigation efforts by an average of 25 percent. This research, the first to provide quantitative evidence of how such biases shape risk practices, shows managers often focus on risks they are most confident in assessing, leaving higher uncertainty risks under addressed. To counter this, ERDC recommended risk governance frameworks such as reference-class forecasting and external validation, which could enhance decision making, improve project outcomes and ensure the resilience of the nation’s vital infrastructure. To learn more about this study, visit https://lnkd.in/gW9HSj-8. #Infrastructure #RiskManagement #Engineering #ProjectManagement #Innovation #DataDriven #NationalSecurity #Science #Technology #Research #Navigation #InlandNavigation

In contested environments, getting a damaged port back into commission rapidly is crucial for maintaining logistical supply lines. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is meeting this challenge with the Port Damage Recovery (PDR) kits engineered to empower the Warfighter to quickly restore maritime infrastructure. These kits – developed by ERDC – do not require heavy machinery or on-site design calculations and are specifically designed for installation using only hand tools and the skills already found in military engineering units. ERDC’s Port Damage Recovery team – part of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory – in collaboration with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center, recently transitioned three kits into a tri-service training environment. These kits are deliverables funded by the Under Secretary of War for the Research and Engineering Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies Program. To learn more about these kits, their capabilities and impact, visit https://lnkd.in/gUfU4EtG. United States Department of War US Army U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center US Army Corps of Engineers #Military #MilitaryEngineering #Logistics #Innovation #NationalSecurity #NationalDefense #Maritime #PortOperations #Engineering #Engineers #Science #Innovation #Technology #Research #ResearchAndDevelopment

Arctic operations can break down quickly when equipment and infrastructure are based on assumptions instead of actual conditions. Mission planners need a clear picture of where extreme cold, high winds, and heavy snow loads are likely to occur across the Arctic and subarctic region. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is helping provide that clarity through Arctic and Subarctic Zonal Characterization and Operational Thresholding, or AZCOT. A report, recently published by the ERDC Library, analyzed 30 years of meteorological data from 1991 through 2020 to map temperature extremes, wind speeds and snow conditions across the austere, polar region. The research also matched those conditions to operational limits for military equipment and infrastructure. This work enables military and operational planners to apply the right resources and capabilities to the right environments, while improving risk-informed decisions for operations in cold regions. To view and download the publication, visit https://lnkd.in/g3A-SRa3. United States Department of War US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #Arctic #ArcticOperations #Military #MilitaryInnovation #EnvironmentalIntelligence #NationalSecurity #MilitaryOperations #MilitaryPlanning #USArmy #Science #Technology #Research #ResearchAndDevelopment

Leveraging cutting-edge military science to serve the nation at home is a core part of the mission at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) tool is a prime example. This AI-powered system, named a USACE Innovation of the Year earlier this year, is accelerating mission timelines for both Warfighters and domestic first responders. “It sets a compelling example of how ERDC science and technology can be translated into deployable capabilities,” Vijay Acharya, acting director at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory said of the BDA program. While it has accelerated the capabilities of our armed forces in reviewing the impact of military weapons in combat environments, it now also has a track record of helping emergency management officials accelerate the deployment of key logistics following a disaster. Click this article to learn more about the BDA tool and the research that led to its development. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #DisasterReponse #MilitaryTech #AI #EmergencyManagement #Engineer #Engineering #Science #Innovation #Technology #Research #ResearchAndDevelopment

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Operational Energy team, in partnership with Soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division, conducted a successful demonstration of the Generation 3 Expeditionary Portable Power Unit (EPPU) at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center. The Operational Energy team is part of the ERDC Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. The EPPU was tested in extreme cold weather, where it effectively powered multiple expandable buildings for mission-critical operations. This demonstration also served as an opportunity to collect valuable performance data. Senior leaders, including Gen. Randy George, Army Chief of Staff, were briefed on the strategic advantages of expeditionary power solutions like the EPPU, which are designed to extend operational reach and minimize logistical requirements in austere environments. As a result of this engagement, ERDC is working with the 555th Engineer Brigade and 864th Engineer Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington on next steps, including equipment fielding, operator training and integration into future exercises. United States Department of War US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #ArmyInnovation #OperationalEnergy #Engineering #MilitaryTech #Military #PowerSolutions #Logistics #Sustainability #Airborne #Engineer #Data #Science #innovation #Technology #Research #ResearchAndDevelopment

Preparing the Army to solve tomorrow’s challenges is an incredibly complex endeavor. For U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (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. Join us on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 a.m. Central for the next episode of the Power of ERDC podcast as 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. RSVP to watch the live release of this episode. To learn more about the Power of ERDC podcast and to explore previous episodes, visit PowerofERDCpodcast.org. United States Department of War US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #Gaming #Gamification #Strategy #Innovation #FutureOfWar #Military #Information #InformationTechnology #Podcasts

Frozen rivers can slow the advance of military equipment, crucial logistics and personnel. This is why better techniques, technology and understanding are needed to advance cold weather bridging. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is helping address that challenge by identifying effective methods to cut and remove ice, making it easier to deploy the Improved Ribbon Bridge and accelerate frozen river crossings. A recent ERDC publication documents field and laboratory testing focused on ice cutting, ice removal and bridge emplacement during frozen wet gap operations. The effort included a field exercise with the North Dakota Army National Guard and controlled testing to evaluate tool performance under varying ice conditions. This research and real-world testing will support improved winter bridging instruction and support updates to U.S. Army tactics and procedures for cold weather bridging operations. To view and download the publication, visit https://lnkd.in/gZtVKzMT. United States Department of War US Army US Army Corps of Engineers North Dakota Army National Guard #MilitaryEngineering #DefenseInnovation #Logistics #ArcticOperations #EngineeringSolutions #MilitaryReadiness #Military #MilitaryEquipment #ResearchAndDevelopment

Establishing a resilient, sustainable power source is a critical component to the modern battlefield, one that can literally shift the balance of power, reducing reliance on fuel convoys and power grids that create a strategic liability. Recently, the 1st Armored Division Innovations Lab, located on Fort Bliss, Texas, took possession of a cutting-edge hydrogen nanogrid – also known as an energy node – developed with industry collaboration at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. This self-contained energy node provides silent untethered power using hydrogen fuel cells and solar panels and represents a major step forward in expeditionary energy resilience. To learn how ERDC and the 1st Armored Division are defining the future of tactical energy security, visit https://lnkd.in/gVDzu-NE. United States Department of War US Army 1st Armored Division US Army Corps of Engineers #MilitaryInnovation #EnergyResilience #HydrogenPower #ArmyModernization #TacticalEnergy #Texas #Energy #Science #Innovation #Military #ResearchAndDevelopment

At the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), a team of nearly 30 master craftsmen turns back-of-the-napkin concepts into reality. These artisans — welders, machinists, model makers and more — operate in three fabrication shops, working alongside engineers and scientists to create custom components and models that cannot be purchased or found anywhere else. From precision parts to detailed hydraulic models, this unique, in-house capability provides the physical tools researchers need to test new ideas, accelerating the advancement and deployment of critical research for the nation. Discover more about how this team turns concept to creation in a recent news story and on the Power of ERDC podcast. To view the recent article, visit https://lnkd.in/geizFv4Y. To listen to the podcast episode, visit https://lnkd.in/gH7HjGZZ. United States Department of War US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #MilitaryEngineering #Innovation #Engineering #ResearchAndDevelopment #SkilledTrades #DefenseInnovation #Machinists