engineering

#39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit: Mission-critical intelligence about vegetation around the world

December 30, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Installations and Operational Environments 0:29:56 0 Comments

Forests cover nearly a third of the Earth’s land surface and present multiple challenges to military forces. Dense trees restrict mobility, limit surveillance, impede air support and degrade communication. But not all forests are the same. To best counter these difficulties, leaders need detailed information about vegetation attributes, such as canopy cover, stem diameter and…

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Podcast Resources: #39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit

December 30, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Installations and Operational Environments, Podcast resources 0 Comments

ERDC’s Forest Ecosystems Dynamics team developed the Global Forest Modeling Toolkit, which applies artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to provide detailed vegetation attributes of forests around the world. Listen to the podcast with ERDC’s Dr. Nathan Beane: PowerofERDCpodcast.org/39-global-forest-modeling Watch a video of the podcast: PowerofERDCpodcast.org/39-global-forest-modeling_video For inquiries about ERDC’s Global Forest Modeling Toolkit, email ERDCinfo@usace.army.mil During…

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Video: #39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit

December 30, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Installations and Operational Environments, video podcasts 0 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzrnJcOFwQ Forests cover nearly a third of the Earth’s land surface and present multiple challenges to military forces. Dense trees restrict mobility, limit surveillance, impede air support and degrade communication. But not all forests are the same. To best counter these difficulties, leaders need detailed information about vegetation attributes, such as canopy cover, stem diameter…

Read More

#39: Global Forest Modeling Toolkit: Mission-critical intelligence about vegetation around the world

December 30, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Installations and Operational Environments, Podcast episodes 0:29:56 0 Comments

Forests cover nearly a third of the Earth’s land surface and present multiple challenges to military forces. Dense trees restrict mobility, limit surveillance, impede air support and degrade communication. But not all forests are the same. To best counter these difficulties, leaders need detailed information about vegetation attributes, such as canopy cover, stem diameter and…

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#36: SandHound: Applying robotics to advance critical coastline survey capabilities

December 9, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Civil Works, Podcast episodes 0:31:47 0 Comments

For several sweltering weeks along the North Carolina coastline, an ERDC teampushed a quadruped robot with a suite of advanced sensors to its limit to test its abilityto conduct critical beach landscape surveys. The research – known as the SandHound Project – is working to validate whether thequadruped can operate at all levels of the…

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#33: PODS and RAIL: Versatile ramp system aids expedient deployment of military equipment

November 18, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Military Engineering, Power of ERDC 0:31:18 0 Comments

ERDC and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) collaborated in 2016 to develop a transportable ramp system that could be used to rapidly restore a damaged pier. The components from the Pier Over-Decking System (PODS) were later redeveloped into the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL) system, which can be used…

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Video: #33: PODS and RAIL

November 18, 2025 Christopher Kieffer video podcasts Comments Off on Video: #33: PODS and RAIL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zcCgFL07U ERDC and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) collaborated in 2016 to develop a transportable ramp system that could be used to rapidly restore a damaged pier. The components from the Pier Over-Decking System (PODS) were later redeveloped into the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL) system, which can be…

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Podcast Resources: #33: PODS and RAIL

November 18, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Podcast resources Comments Off on Podcast Resources: #33: PODS and RAIL

ERDC and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center collaborated in 2016 to develop a transportable ramp system that could be used to rapidly restore a damaged pier.  The components from the Pier Over-Decking System (PODS) were later redeveloped into the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL) system, which can be…

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#33: PODS and RAIL: Versatile ramp system aids expedient deployment of military equipment

November 18, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Military Engineering, Podcast episodes 0:31:18 Comments Off on #33: PODS and RAIL: Versatile ramp system aids expedient deployment of military equipment

ERDC and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) collaborated in 2016 to develop a transportable ramp system that could be used to rapidly restore a damaged pier. The components from the Pier Over-Decking System (PODS) were later redeveloped into the Rapidly Available Interface for trans-Loading (RAIL) system, which can be used…

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#32: Muddy: A mapping robot for extreme environments

April 8, 2025 Christopher Kieffer Geospatial Research and Engineering, Power of ERDC 0:38:50 0 Comments

A low-cost unmanned ground vehicle capable of producing 3D maps, the Muddy robot has solved a variety of mapping challenges since 2017. Developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Muddy is often used to test more expansive robotic platforms and to enable other projects. Its combination of autonomous navigation, affordability and…

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