• Safety emphases leads into June's National Safety Month

    The course focused on four main components of safety hazards: electrical, falls, struck by, caught in-between. Instructors reviewed OSHA regulations, proper personal protection and lifesaving equipment and arc flash safety, among many other safety protocols.
  • Railroad Infrastructure Management: A Novel Tool for Automatic Interpretation of GPR Imaging to Minimize Human Intervention in Railroad Inspection

    Abstract: Regular monitoring and inspection of military railroad tracks are necessary to ensure the safe transportation of military freight. Manual railroad inspection has drawbacks and limitations that can impact accuracy and efficiency. This study introduces a novel tool designed to automate Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) imaging interpretation for railroad ballast condition assessment, aiming to reduce human intervention in inspections. The tool uses advanced signal processing techniques, such as the Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Wavelet Transform (WT), to quantify ballast fouling levels accurately, enhancing maintenance and safety protocols for railroad tracks. Validation through comprehensive testing, including two case studies, demonstrates the tool’s superior efficacy over traditional manual inspection methods. This research represents a pivotal step towards more efficient and reliable infrastructure management, ensuring critical railroad systems’ safety and operational integrity.
  • Virtual public updates scheduled for Mississippi River study

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has scheduled two virtual public update meetings for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp) on Thursday, June 20 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Corps of Engineers reminds visitors to practice water safety

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 20, 2024) – As millions of Americans plan visits to lakes and rivers throughout the Cumberland River Basin this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District reminds visitors of the importance of practicing safety around open water.
  • National Guard’s 649th Engineer Company gives and receives during training exercise

    In a win-win scenario, both parties are content with an arrangement or gain something equally.That’s
  • No bridge? No problem. National Guard Soldiers bring the solution

    Visitors to Sacramento District’s Black Butte Dam and Lake in Orland, California, had the
  • Pittsburgh District partners with Pittsburgh Pirates to promote water safety

    The Pittsburgh District partnered with the Pittsburgh Pirates to host an evening dedicated to water safety.
  • A Dynamic Aircraft Response Model for Determining Roughness Limits

    Abstract: Runway roughness poses significant risks to aircraft and aircraft personnel. Roughness irregularities can be found in both civilian and military airfields, from rutting to bomb-damaged repairs. Various methods exist for determining roughness criteria, such as discrete surface deviation evaluation and dynamic response models. Although validated dynamic response models such as TAXI-G were used extensively in the HAVE BOUNCE program from the 1970s up to the late 1990s, modern military aircraft have not undergone the same formal analysis. This paper presents the mathematical formulation and validation of the WESTAX dynamic response model. The computer program is capable of simulating the responses of different critical aircraft components while trafficking over idealized runway profiles. The validation results showed that the numerical model was capable of closely matching field data over single- and double bump events. The findings suggest that the WESTAX dynamic response model is a capable candidate for establishing aircraft roughness limits.
  • Interlaboratory Study of Polyethylene and Polydimethylsiloxane Polymeric Samplers for Ex Situ Measurement of Freely Dissolved Hydrophobic Organic Compounds in Sediment Porewater

    Abstract: We evaluated the precision and accuracy of multilaboratory measurements for determining freely dissolved concentrations (Cfree) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediment porewater using polydimethylsiloxane and low-density polyethylene polymeric samplers. Four laboratories exposed performance reference compound (PRC) preloaded polymers to actively mixed and static ex situ sediment for approximately one month or more. For Cfree results, intralaboratory precision was high for single compounds; most PAHs and PCBs variability was low. Variability was higher for most hydrophobic PAHs, PCBs, and naphthalene, which were present at low concentrations and required larger PRC-based corrections. Intra- and interlaboratory variability between methods was low. Cfree polymer equilibrium was achieved in approximately one month during active exposures, suggesting using PRCs may be avoided for ex situ analysis using comparable active exposure; however, such testing may not reflect field conditions. Polymer-derived Cfree concentrations for most PCBs and PAHs averaged within a factor of 2 compared with concentrations in isolated porewater; difference factors of up to 6 were observed for naphthalene and the most hydrophobic PAHs and PCBs. Cfree results were similar for academic and private sector laboratories. The accuracy and precision demonstrated for determinating Cfree using polymer sampling are anticipated to increase regulatory acceptance and confidence.
  • Cannelton employee uses recycled materials as inspiration for art

    Chris Carl has had an interest in art for as long as she can remember. What began with something as