Power of ERDC

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

Satisfy your curiosity and learn how some of our country’s smartest engineers and scientists are solving many of the toughest challenges facing the nation and the Warfighter. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is comprised of seven research laboratories across four states, and one of its greatest strengths is its ability to combine the expertise from multiple laboratories into powerful, cross-disciplinary projects. Each month, we dive into one of these complex problems across its broad civil works and military mission space and ask ERDC’s world-class researchers about how they are discovering, developing and delivering practical cutting-edge solutions that make the world safer and better.

  1. Jun 2

    #61: ERDC collaboration with industry is accelerating operational energy capabilities

    Modern military command and control units demand an unprecedented amount of power in the field, pushing traditional fuel resupply lines to their logistical limits and risking Warfighter lives. To confront this challenge, and overcome the risk to life and equipment, the Department of War and ERDC are accelerating the development of operational energy sources to ensure mission success and find significant cost savings. In this episode, Dr. Jess Lyons, a research scientist with the Operational Energy Team at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, explains how ERDC is leveraging industry partnerships to rapidly develop, ruggedize, and field-test innovative operational energy systems that provide reliable power, cut fuel consumption and costs, and better serve our Armed Forces. Topics include a look at power demands for today’s command and control units (1:39); the real logistical, financial and human cost of current operational energy systems and resupply efforts (3:07); and an overview of the hybrid energy systems produced by industry partner LEMA currently being tested and deployed (10:03). We also discuss ERDC’s role in testing and ruggedizing these systems (14:41), the critically important feedback from military personnel in advancing new technologies (16:52), and why the demand for these operational energy systems has increased so rapidly in recent years (27:38). For more information, visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/61-Frontline-Energy-Systems_resources. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/61-Frontline-Energy-Systems_video.

    34 min

  2. May 26

    #60: Building Airfields at the Speed of Mission

    In a contested environment, the ability to land, refuel and launch aircraft can determine mission success. Dr. Abby Cisko, a research mechanical engineer at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, is helping modernize how U.S. Forces build and sustain expeditionary airfields in austere conditions. Legacy airfield matting systems, like the decades-old AM2, remain effective but come with significant logistical challenges. Heavy, difficult to transport, and labor intensive to install, these systems can slow deployment timelines when speed is most critical. Cisko and her team are addressing that challenge through the development of the Airfield Mat Lightweight system (AML), an alternative designed to reduce weight, improve transport efficiency, and accelerate installation while maintaining operational performance. Cisko explains how the AML system is reshaping logistics by reducing transport requirements and enabling rapid construction of parking areas, taxiways, and fighter hide pads in a matter of days. She also highlights lessons learned from a recent large-scale demonstration in Guam, where direct feedback from Warfighters helped refine both the system design and the technical guidance needed for field use. Topics discussed include how AML improves deployment speed and reduces logistical burden (4:23); how Warfighter feedback is shaping system design and usability (9:31); and how new coating technologies and reusable materials extend the lifespan and flexibility of expeditionary airfield systems (20:29). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_resources for more information about the AML system. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_video.

    27 min

  3. May 19

    #59: Expedition ARCHIE: Water resilience for Arctic installations

    Water is critical to life and essential for Warfighter operations. However, accessing it in frigid Arctic conditions can be a challenge. To meet this need, a portable water treatment system developed by ERDC was successfully demonstrated at the U.S. Department of War’s northernmost installation. The Deployable Resilient Installation water Purification and treatment System (DRIPS) supplied potable water at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. The test occurred during Expedition ARCHIE (the Arctic Resource Conservation Hydration Innovation Experiment), an international collaboration between ERDC, the U.S. Space Force and the Danish Defence Estate Agency. Joining us to discuss how DRIPS can improve water supply in the Arctic is Dr. Clint Smith, a senior research biologist at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory. Topics include the challenge of water resilience in the Arctic (1:28), the capabilities of the DRIPS system (9:12) and how it performed at Expedition ARCHIE (15:59). We also talk about ERDC’s participation in an international collaboration for Polar research (4:26), how DRIPS benefits from ERDC’s multidisciplinary expertise (20:47) and how the team is working with industry to rapidly transition the technology (24:00). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/59-Expedition-ARCHIE_resources for more information about DRIPS and the experiment at Pituffik Space Base. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/59-Expedition-ARCHIE_video.

    29 min

  4. May 12

    #58: Building Energy Resilience in the Arctic & Elsewhere

    As the Department of War increases its focus on the Arctic, ensuring our forces can operate effectively in one of the world's harshest environments has become a critical priority. From energy and infrastructure to the simple challenge of keeping equipment from freezing, the region’s demands require new and creative solutions, including the Mobile Insulation System for Energy Reduction (MISER). Justine Yu, a research architect with ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, discusses MISER’s development, its deployment to the Army, and the impact it and similar technologies can have on maximizing and protecting energy in austere environments. Topics include how and why MISER was developed (4:23), the importance of a blanket-like system such as MISER for equipment operations in the Arctic (5:16), and results and feedback from MISER’s recent deployment and testing in Alaska (6:11). We also discuss the Arctic Infrastructure Research Group, of which Yu is a part (1:36), and some of the group’s shared solutions (2:28). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/58-Resilient-Energy-In-The-Arctic_video.

    21 min

  5. May 5

    #57: Transforming the Built Environment: ERDC team guides DOW, USCAE on cutting-edge techniques for building, maintaining facilities

    Technological advancements are dramatically changing how facilities are designed, constructed and maintained. Given the rapid pace of change, it is important for the Department of War and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to stay updated on the latest advancements and promote consistent standards across their facilities, while also seeking new innovations to improve mission execution. The Tri-Services CAD/BIM Technical Center of Expertise (TCx), which is based at the ERDC Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), promotes cutting-edge engineering and design processes for military and civil works facilities. The team advises the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as USACE, on innovative uses of various technologies – from computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) to virtual and augmented reality, digital twins, artificial intelligence, and more. We speak with Nathan Jones and Brandon Meinert about how the team is working to transform the built environment. Jones is chief of the Tri-Services CAD/BIM TCx, and Meinert is a research general engineer at ITL.

    37 min

  6. Apr 28

    #56: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Workshop helps researchers from different ERDC laboratories team up on new innovations

    ERDC has a long legacy of bringing together researchers from various disciplines to make new discoveries that no one could have found alone. That cross-laboratory, cross-disciplinary collaboration is one of ERDC’s greatest strengths, enabling engineers and scientists to tackle problems in innovative ways. However, with seven laboratories spread across four states, it requires intentional effort to build these collaborative teams. That’s why ERDC launched the Research and Development – or RD as they’re known – workshop series in 2018 as a biennial event to enable researchers to learn from and interact with those in different laboratories – forming new teams and sowing the seeds for future innovations. RD26, the fifth installment in the series, was held in April and drew a record number of participants and presentations. Joining us to discuss ERDC’s efforts to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration are RD26 leads Carra Carrillo and Lauren May. Carrillo is the chief of the River and Estuarine Engineering Branch at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. May is the acting chief of the Environmental Processes Branch at ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory. Topics discussed include the history of the RD workshop series and how it has evolved through the years (1:43), why cross-laboratory collaboration is important and the challenges of making it happen at a place like ERDC (3:44), and how the RD workshop series enables the cross-pollination of ideas (7:07). We also talked about how the event makes ERDC stronger (8:44), how it prepares future ERDC leaders (13:26), and the types of topics that were discussed at RD26 (15:36). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/56-cross-laboratory-collaboration_video.

    22 min

  7. Apr 21

    Testing the Future of our Nation’s Infrastructure

    Once completed, a new ERDC model will fundamentally change the way navigation infrastructure components in our nation are designed, built and tested. The Hydraulic Structures Experiment and Validation Model, currently set to go into operation in 2028, will be a one-of-a-kind testbed, advancing and accelerating the revitalization of our nation’s waterways. On this episode, Dr. Charlie Burchfield and Bowen Woodson, both with ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, talk about the difference this model will make as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) seeks to modernize its aging infrastructure portfolio. Topics discussed include an overview of the model, its size and planned capabilities (1:22); the necessity driving the model’s development (2:54); and the enthusiasm within the USACE navigation community regarding its potential impact on future projects (4:23). We also discuss how the model helps reduce risk in fielding new infrastructure components (7:35) and the real-world characteristics it can emulate during testing (12:01). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/55-Testing-Future-Infrastructure_video.

    28 min

  8. Apr 14

    A Forecasting Advantage: Improved weather models protect Soldiers & operations

    Massive dust storms from the Gobi Desert pose a significant and unpredictable threat to military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. For years, forecast accuracy has been a challenge, with models often failing to account for dynamic conditions, like seasonal snowpack, that can intensify these hazardous events. On this episode, Dr. Ted Letcher, a member of ERDC’s Weather Effects Team, discusses how his team developed an innovative predictive model that provides commanders with reliable, actionable intelligence. This solution enhances mission safety for flight, ground and surveillance operations while reducing costly false alarms that waste resources and cause unnecessary downtime. Topics include the Weather Effects Team’s background, expertise and mission (1:33); why tracking and forecasting dust is critical to military mission planners (4:51); and what is so unique about the Gobi Desert region that makes it a forecasting challenge (9:12). We also discuss how this forecast is helping reduce weather “false alarms” (11:09) and the improved and more precise weather maps that resulted from this work (18:50). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/54_A_Forecasting_Advantage_video.

    28 min
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About

Satisfy your curiosity and learn how some of our country’s smartest engineers and scientists are solving many of the toughest challenges facing the nation and the Warfighter. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is comprised of seven research laboratories across four states, and one of its greatest strengths is its ability to combine the expertise from multiple laboratories into powerful, cross-disciplinary projects. Each month, we dive into one of these complex problems across its broad civil works and military mission space and ask ERDC’s world-class researchers about how they are discovering, developing and delivering practical cutting-edge solutions that make the world safer and better.

Information

  • Creator
    U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © This podcast, its associated website and their contents are the copyright of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. All rights are reserved.
  • Show Website
    Power of ERDC