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ERDC’s Leigh Langley discusses how she and her team were able to transport a dune to the laboratory to learn lessons that will improve the nation’s coastal management practices.

Learn how ERDC is deploying advanced lidar technology to monitor Suicide Basin and help USACE design flood mitigation systems to project Juneau, Alaska.

Extreme weather events are not unique to the United States. That is why an ERDC researcher will be traveling to Japan to study with experts there and collaborate on strategies that can reduce flood risk in both nations. Dr. Amanda Tritinger, a research civil engineer at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, was recently selected for the U.S. Army’s Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program (ESEP). As principal engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering With Nature® program, she is a renowned expert on natural and hybrid infrastructure and applying it to reduce risks from flooding, erosion and extreme weather. Tritinger is the first U.S. engineer selected as an ESEP participant in Japan, where she will work alongside Japan’s Ministry of Defense and National Defense Academy to conduct research on the risk assessment of heavy precipitation and typhoon damage in Japan. We talk with Tritinger about the program and how she came to be involved with it (1:31), the research she will be conducting (10:09), how it builds upon her past research efforts (12:46) and how the things she will learn will strengthen future research endeavors (18:41). Additional topics include Japan’s unique flood mitigation challenges (21:30); and how the Army (22:58), USACE and ERDC (24:47) will benefit from this collaboration. For more information, visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/77-Japan-flood-mitigation_resources. Watch a video of this episode at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/77-Japan-flood-mitigation_video.

Learn how ERDC uses large-scale 3D printing, advanced materials and industry partnerships to build complex components and accelerate physical modeling.

Learn how ERDC research in force protection, blast effects and protective design helped prepare the nation to respond to September 11 and the challenges that followed.

Across the country, coastal waters at Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) potentially contain unexploded ordnance. Finding, identifying, characterizing and, when necessary, safely clearing these munitions in shallow-water environments presents an immense challenge. Cutting-edge robotic systems equipped with advanced sensors, acoustics and precision mapping tools hold potential to locate these hazards. However, these technologies must first be proven in the chaotic, highly dynamic environment of the nearshore zone. An ERDC research team at the Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, North Carolina, part of ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, is bridging this critical gap. By establishing an extensive underwater testbed, ERDC is providing the real-world environment needed to test, validate and advance next-generation sensors and robotic platforms in surf conditions — ensuring these technologies are mission-ready. Joining us to discuss this testbed are Dr. Spicer Bak and Pat Dickhudt, who have been at the forefront of the design and development of this testbed that is helping accelerate the delivery of these important technologies. Discussion topics include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ involvement in underwater munitions response (1:49), what makes the FRF a perfect location for this testbed (4:55), and how the FRF’s unique capabilities support a high level of accuracy (18:11). We also talk about lessons learned from developing the testbed (19:30), the process of using the testbed (27:49) and some of the key findings from technologies tested at the site (33:03). Watch a video of this episode at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/74-underwater-UXO-testbed_video.

Learn how ERDC is using biopolymers and vegetation to reduce levee erosion, resist overtopping and explore lower-cost, long-term embankment protection.

Learn how ERDC and the Defense Logistics Agency are exploring how artificial intelligence can improve Class IV logistics planning.

Failure is something engineers work every day to prevent, but at ERDC, researchers can study failure before it happens in the real world. Dr. April Bowman, a research civil engineer with ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, joins the Power of ERDC podcast to explain how the Centrifuge Research Complex helps scientists and engineers model large-scale infrastructure problems in miniature while recreating real-world stress conditions. The centrifuge allows ERDC to study how soil and structures interact under load, giving researchers a safer and more cost-effective way to examine dams, levees, walls, tunnels, foundations, protective barriers and other large infrastructure systems. Bowman explains how spinning a small model at increased gravity can make it behave like a full-scale system, allowing researchers to test failure mechanisms that would be too dangerous, expensive or impractical to recreate in the field (3:40). Topics discussed include why soil behavior depends on stress (5:34); how centrifuge testing can reduce costs while increasing the number of tests (7:17); how ERDC research has supported military protection systems (9:09) and civil works infrastructure (12:28); and how current mechanically stabilized earth wall research is using fiber optic strain sensing and acoustic sensing to detect early warning signs of failure (16:03). For more information, visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/71-spinning-big-science_resources. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/71-spinning-big-science_video.

STEM outreach has built a talent pipeline for ERDC and reshaped its future.

Learn how ERDC researchers are building a national database of sand-grain size, filling a critical knowledge gap that will enable better beach management.

ERDC surf observation research supports military’s amphibious operation mission.

Learn how ERDC’s PLANS and WGAP tools support contested movement by improving route analysis, gap-crossing planning and engineer-informed decision support.

Listen to learn how ERDC research into post-wildfire flooding is helping USACE protect communities from this unique phenomenon.

Protecting critical infrastructure starts at the surface. For ERDC researchers working in coatings science, that surface determines performance, longevity and cost. Brooke Divan, a research physical scientist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Paint Technology Center of Expertise, supports projects across the country by connecting coatings science with real-world infrastructure performance. Her team provides technical guidance, validates materials and develops the standards that ensure coatings systems perform as intended. From early project planning to failure analysis, the team’s work reduces corrosion risk, prevents costly rework and extends the service life of critical infrastructure. By testing every batch of paint used on hydraulic steel structures and supporting more than 30 USACE districts, the team plays a direct role in protecting billions of dollars in assets. Divan explains how the Paint Technology Center of Expertise bridges research and operations, supports industry standards, and trains those who apply coatings. Topics discussed include how the team supports real-time field questions and failure investigations (2:04), the role of coatings testing and national specifications in ensuring performance (12:03), and how training and contractor certification improve project outcomes (17:53). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/65-engineering-protection-at-the-surface_video. You can also see additional resources at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/65-engineering-protection-at-the-surface_resources.