Archives: Episode

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

April 28, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Basic Research, Civil Works, Military Engineering 0:21:43 0 Comments

ERDC has a long legacy of bringing together researchers from various disciplines to make newdiscoveries 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 sevenlaboratories spread across four states, it requires intentional effort to build these…

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 #55: Testing the Future of our Nation’s Infrastructure

April 21, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Civil Works 0:28:21 0 Comments

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….

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#54: A Forecasting Advantage: Improved weather models protect Soldiers & operations

April 14, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Military Engineering 0:27:38 0 Comments

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…

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#53: Liquid Logistics: Securing the frontline power & water our military needs

April 7, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Power of ERDC 0:32:09 0 Comments

On the modern battlefield, supplying essential power and water in austere environments is a major logistical challenge. The effort to quickly develop and deploy essential technologies to provide these “liquid logistics” is at the forefront of several ERDC research programs and projects. Leading that effort are the world-class research teams at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research…

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#52: Decades of Coastal Data is a ‘National Treasure’

March 31, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Basic Research, Civil Works, Military Engineering 0:35:43 0 Comments

Mike Forte, a research physical scientist at ERDC’s Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, North Carolina, calls himself and his team “custodians” of the data continuously collected at the research facility. The team’s care for the data, collection methods and validation and preparation efforts have made this data a national treasure. Decades of data sets from constant observation…

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#51: Gaming the Future: Researchers lean into gamification to solve tomorrow’s challenges

March 24, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Basic Research, Military Engineering 0:31:47 0 Comments

Preparing the Army to solve tomorrow’s challenges is an incredibly complex endeavor. For 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…

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#50: Permafrost Microorganisms: Newly discovered species could aid U.S. military Arctic operations

March 17, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Basic Research, Military Engineering 0:37:28 0 Comments

ERDC researchers recently discovered 26 new species of microorganisms frozen in permafrost that was approximately 40,000 years old. Studying the properties of these new species could unlock capabilities with the potential to support U.S. military operations in extreme cold regions. We discuss this discovery with Dr. Robyn Barbato, a senior research microbiologist and the leader…

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 #49: Coastal Physical Modeling: Validating for Resilience and Defense

March 10, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Civil Works, Military Engineering 0:35:56 0 Comments

Even in the age of supercomputing, engineers still demand tangible models to fully understand the complex interaction between coastal infrastructure and dynamic ocean forces. ERDC has nearly a century of expertise in building scaled representations of real-world systems and testing them to evaluate civil works and military project designs. We discuss ERDC’s coastal physical modeling…

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#48: The Network Behind the Waterway: How LOMA keeps traffic moving

March 3, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Civil Works 0:24:04 0 Comments

Built on Automatic Identification System vessel broadcasts and supported by a nationwide network of fixed receiver sites and mobile trailer deployments, the Lock Operations Management Application (LOMA) helps lock operators and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts better understand vessel traffic, anticipate delays and communicate changing conditions to mariners. Dr. Marin Kress of ERDC’s Coastal…

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#47: From the Frontlines to the Homefront: Battlefield Damage Assessment Tool is helping with natural disaster response

February 24, 2026 Christopher Kieffer Civil Works, Geospatial Research and Engineering, Installations and Operational Environments, Military Engineering 0:26:08 0 Comments

What if a tool designed for combat could become a lifeline in the wake of natural disasters? The Battlefield Damage Assessment Tool, a system that provides rapid analysis in combat environments, has been deployed to help first responders allocate key resources more efficiently following wildfires and hurricanes. We discuss the technology and its development with…

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