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

    #57: Transforming the Built Environment: ERDC team guides DOW, USCAE on cutting-edge techniques for building, maintaining facilities
    2026/05/05
    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. Topics include why the center is needed (4:22), how it has evolved (5:38), the role it plays today (6:54) and how it is working with private industry (26:18). We also discuss how the center is serving as a digital advisor (30:41), the transformative potential offered by digital twins (12:02), and how the center is applying artificial intelligence (16:45). For more information about the CAD/BIM TCx, visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/57-CAD-BIM-TCx_resources. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/57-CAD-BIM-TCx_video.
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    37 分
  • #56: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Workshop helps researchers from different ERDC laboratories team up on new innovations

    #56: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Workshop helps researchers from different ERDC laboratories team up on new innovations
    2026/04/28
    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.
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    22 分
  • #55: Testing the Future of our Nation’s Infrastructure

    #55: Testing the Future of our Nation’s Infrastructure
    2026/04/21
    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.
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    28 分
  • #54: A Forecasting Advantage: Improved weather models protect Soldiers & operations

    #54: A Forecasting Advantage: Improved weather models protect Soldiers & operations
    2026/04/14
    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.
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    28 分
  • #53: Liquid Logistics: Securing the frontline power & water our military needs

    #53: Liquid Logistics: Securing the frontline power & water our military needs
    2026/04/07
    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 Laboratory (CERL). Leveraging the laboratory's unique capabilities and facilities, these teams are accelerating the development, testing and deployment of transformative technologies. Their work is reshaping the logistical landscape for our military, while enhancing Soldier safety and the ability of U.S. forces to operate and dominate in any environment. Dr. Andy Nelson, director of CERL, provides a high-level perspective on the operational energy and water programs currently underway. In the discussion, he explains operational energy and water (1:33), how CERL became a world-leader in these research areas (3:34), and how some of CERL’s unique facilities provide critical Soldier touchpoints for new technologies (7:41). He also covers how interconnected water and energy are in combat environments (9:55) and why there is a strong push for these critical solutions now (11:39). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/53-Liquid-Logistics_video.
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    32 分
  • #52: Decades of Coastal Data is a ‘National Treasure’

    #52: Decades of Coastal Data is a ‘National Treasure’
    2026/03/31
    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 of the coastline through sensors, cameras, surveys and more have shaped and advanced coastal engineering, supported the development of new ocean and storm models, and given our military a decisive edge in coastal, littoral and amphibious operations. Forte pulls back the curtain on the scope of the facility’s data collection, the partnerships with national and global research organizations, and the effort to document and best tell the scientific stories of massive storms along our nation’s Atlantic Coast. Topics discussed include how the team responded to and captured data from a record-setting nor’easter in January (02:16); the FRF’s suite of data collection techniques and technologies for capturing coastal processes (5:14); and the critical role the facility's unique pier plays in collecting, validating and verifying that data (9:22). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/52-FRF-data-is-a-national-treasure_video. You can also see additional resources at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/52-FRF-data-is-a-national-treasure_resources.
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    36 分
  • #51: Gaming the Future: Researchers lean into gamification to solve tomorrow’s challenges

    #51: Gaming the Future: Researchers lean into gamification to solve tomorrow’s challenges
    2026/03/24
    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 other subject matter experts. We explore how ERDC research is strengthened by gaming techniques combined with nearly a century of engineering and scientific expertise. Our guests are Dr. Mihan House McKenna Taylor, Josh Church and Jared Brock. Taylor is Army Senior Research Scientist for Near Surface Phenomenology; Church leads the Scientific Software Branch at ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL); and Brock is a computer scientist in ITL’s Scientific Software Branch. Topics include ERDC’s experience in using gaming and game theory to help build out capabilities and support the Army mission (4:05), what makes gamification an effective method to plan for unknown future scenarios (11:53) and the unique capabilities ERDC offers in this space (15:29). We also discuss how gaming techniques can help inform future acquisitions and lead to better investments (18:34), how they can improve the development of new technology (23:58) and how Artificial Intelligence can change the way these strategic exercises are conducted (28:51). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/51-gaming-the-future_video. You can also see additional resources at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/51-gaming-the-future_resources.
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    32 分
  • #50: Permafrost Microorganisms: Newly discovered species could aid U.S. military Arctic operations

    #50: Permafrost Microorganisms: Newly discovered species could aid U.S. military Arctic operations
    2026/03/17
    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 of the soil microbiology team at ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. Topics include how studying microorganisms and finding new species can help the U.S. Army (1:20), potential technologies or applications that could emerge from this research (4:20) and how the team made its discovery (8:00). We also talk about the unique process for extracting these samples (13:01), Barbato’s work on a U.S. Department of War community of interest that examines biotechnology (21:33) and the capabilities offered by ERDC’s ICE COLD library of permafrost microbes (29:18). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/50-permafrost-microorganisms_video. You can also see additional resources at www.PowerofERDCPodcast.org/50-permafrost-microorganisms_resources.
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    37 分