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

A levee’s vegetation health is a key indicator of the earthen structure’s ability to withstand an overtopping event. Yet for decades, engineers and disaster-response planners have visually graded levee vegetation on a limited three-option scale: good, average or poor. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is working to modernize widely used flood models by developing a vegetation index that more comprehensively quantifies vegetation stability on coastal levees. The index will incorporate an array of ecological measurements, such as root/ shoot ratios, evapotranspiration rates, soil moisture, vegetation shear, root strength, and vegetation age, size and type. The idea is that healthy vegetation will better withstand overtopping events, as roots help hold soil in place to limit erosion. The team plans to develop the index by using field sampling and greenhouse experiments, as well as incorporating remote sensing through satellites, UAVs and planes. This will enable flood models to include real-time data, a potential game changer in disaster planning and response. To learn more about this research effort, visit https://lnkd.in/gNseS7bY. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #levees #flood #flooding #floodcontrol #floodmodels #vegetation #models #ecology #ecological #remotesensing #sensortechnology #data #dataanalytics #realtimedata #engineer #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Dr. David Pittman, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), led a team from ERDC on a visit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District (NAE). The visit included discussions of possible collaborations with NAE on a larger scale, including flood risk management research, use of 3D-printed parts for future mechanical needs, support from the USACE Paint Technology Center, Technical Center of Expertise about coatings for gates and steel structures, and environmentally sustainable coatings for cables. The ERDC delegation had the opportunity to tour two sites at Boston Harbor to better understand the scale and challenges associated with a Coastal Storm Risk Management Study for the Boston area; the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier for an overview of the operation and maintenance of the 60-year-old facility; and the Woonsocket Flood Control Project and West Hill Dam to discuss areas where ERDC’s R&D could support ongoing maintenance efforts. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District #boston #newengland #bostonharbor #coastal #coastalresilience #stormrisk #hurricanes #tropcialsystems #3d #3dprinting #coatings #paint #hydraulics #environment #environmentallyfriendly #envrionmental #flood #floodcontrol #floodmanagement #engineer #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Coastlines are being threatened by the effects of a changing climate, creating challenges for both civil works and military planners. Coastal resiliency and flood risk management are at the forefront like never before, but as conditions change, planners need help assessing these areas to ensure the measures they put into place will still be effective, not just 10 or 20 years down the road, but 50 to 100 years in the future. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is working on a set of tools to assist planners in forecasting the evolution of coastlines and coastal dunes to help inform decision making and basic planning efforts. These numerical models – Process-Based Tools for Optimizing Coastal Dune Performance – have been developed to focus on coastal processes that determine whether these natural structures will be present or absent or whether they’re going to grow or erode over time. To learn more about this research effort and these models, visit https://lnkd.in/g__eRFvs. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #military #climate #flood #floodrisk #civilworks #models #numericalmodels #coastlines #resilientcoastlines #decisionmaking #dune #dunesystems #engineer #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Harmful Algal Bloom Demonstration Program funding opportunity announcement has been released. Submissions are being accepted now until January 27, 2025. For information about eligibility, solution brief (aka pre-proposal) requirements, and more, visit https://lnkd.in/ga7bz4cT. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers ERDCWERX #water #waterresources #waterquality #freshwater #harmfulalgalblooms #naturalresources #environment #environmental #science #innovation #technology #scalabletechnologies #engineer #engineering #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Using the wrong coatings on an infrastructure project can lead to millions of dollars in remediation costs later in a project. A team of experts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, wants to prevent these potentially costly issues by providing input earlier in the process. The USACE Paint Technology Center, Technical Center of Expertise (PTCx) is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development on coatings, while also supporting project managers across the Department of Defense in making sure they use the correct coatings, methods and personnel to protect infrastructure and buildings, reduce downtime and extent the service life. From offering timely reviews of project specifications and scrutiny of coatings planned for construction, to establishing the criteria by which our military uses these coatings, the PTCx’s Field Support Team has become a key resource. To learn more about this team’s capabilities, visit https://lnkd.in/gjzFP-Mw. United States Department of Defense US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #infrastructure #coatings #paint #corrosion #construction #planning #constructionplans #projectmanagement #usarmy #engineer #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

A team at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has successfully demonstrated a novel method of 3D printing with ice reinforced with natural fibers. The research focused on developing innovative techniques for military construction projects in remote cold regions, where conventional construction methods can be difficult or impossible. To learn more about this research and successful demonstration, visit https://lnkd.in/gKWbQVey. United States Department of Defense US Army USACE, Institute for Water Resources #military #arctic #3d #3dprinting #novelmethod #engineer #engineering #coldregions #construction #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Stretching across more than 20,000 islands, and renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity, the Tongass National Forest (TNF) in Alaska is one of the largest old-growth temperate rainforests in the world. The U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC), in collaboration with the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is working to document the forest’s cave biodiversity and explore how the caves are connected using molecular genetic tools. The main goal of this project is to better understand the composition and connectivity of subterranean cave communities, which will inform more effective conservation and management strategies. In addition, the project aims to improve survey methods for cave biodiversity using eDNA analysis, enhancing the Forest Service’s and the Army’s ability to conduct more comprehensive, frequent and cost-effective assessments compared to traditional survey approaches. To learn more about this research effort, visit https://lnkd.in/ghdrAY2x. US Army US Army Corps of Engineers The University of Alabama in Huntsville USDA Forest Service #alaska #rainforests #biodiversity #caves #genetics #conservation #surveying #engineer #engineering #science #innovation #technology #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC

Join us for the next ERDC Live as we welcome Col. Christian Patterson, commander of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), and Maj. Joseph Bostick, ERDC’s deputy commander, to discuss ERDC’s contingency of military officers. Since ERDC’s founding as the Waterways Experiment Station in 1929, it has been supported by the presence and leadership of military officers who have advanced the innovative and critical research and development conducted across our seven laboratories. The thousands of officers who have passed through this organization have provided keen insight and important feedback that has helped our engineers and scientists discover, develop and deliver the right engineering solutions for the men and women of our Armed Forces and for our nation. Today’s military contingent at ERDC is among the most diverse in our history, bringing with them expertise from across the engineering and military landscape. They not only have the knowledge, but also the experience of applying engineering technologies across USACE and wherever our forces have deployed.

CHANGE OF PLANS: Due to technical issues, this live broadcast can be seen at, https://lnkd.in/gW5Ucjfk. Log on and take part in the conversation. #military #usarmy #leadership #innovation #science #technology #research #researchanddevelopment

In addition to discovering, developing and delivering world-class solutions, engineers and scientists at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) have been writing about it. During FY24, ERDC researchers published 291 reports, a 40 percent increase over the previous year. In addition, researchers contributed to 282 refereed journal articles to scholarly journals, the second-highest year since tracking began in FY12. By disseminating their findings to the global scientific community, ERDC researchers seek to enhance the collective body of knowledge, increase the visibility and impact of their work, and underscore the value of ERDC’s contributions to various fields. To search ERDC’s library, visit https://lnkd.in/gFR85egB. United States Department of Defense US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #library #journals #journalarticles #science #techincalwriting #technology #innovation #knowledge #knowledgemanagement #scholarlyjournals #engineer #engineering #research #researchanddevelopment #PowerofERDC