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  • Riverview Park: past, present, and future

    Raging Arkansas River flows wiped out Riverview Park in Dardanelle, Arkansas and compromised the rock covered bank that protects the electrical switchyard at the Dardanelle Hydropower Plant during the 2019 spring flood.

  • Resource Efficiency Manager program growing

    The new $5 million Blanket Purchase Agreement allows additional REM contract awards and four additional contractors (for a total of seven contractors) increasing the availability of REMs to meet the REM program’s progression.

  • ERDC Soils Laboratory welcomes Baylor University physicist

    The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) is hosting a physicist from Baylor University during the month of November.

  • Imagery Classification for Autonomous Ground Vehicle Mobility in Cold Weather Environments

    Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) research for military applications is important for developing ways to remove soldiers from harm’s way. Current AGV research tends toward operations in warm climates and this leaves the vehicle at risk of failing in cold climates. To ensure AGVs can fulfill a military vehicle’s role of being able to operate on- or off-road in all conditions, consideration needs to be given to terrain of all types to inform the on-board machine learning algorithms. This research aims to correlate real-time vehicle performance data with snow and ice surfaces derived from multispectral imagery with the goal of aiding in the development of a truly all-terrain AGV. Using the image data that correlated most closely to vehicle performance the images were classified into terrain units of most interest to mobility. The best image classification results were obtained when using Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) band values and a supervised classification scheme, resulting in over 95% accuracy.

  • Methodology for the Analysis of Geospatial and Vehicle Datasets in the R Language

    Abstract: The challenge of autonomous off-road operations necessitates a robust understanding of the relationships between remotely sensed terrain data and vehicle performance. The implementation of statistical analyses on large geospatial datasets often requires the transition between multiple software packages that may not be open-source. The lack of a single, modular, and open-source analysis environment can reduce the speed and reliability of an analysis due to an increased number of processing steps. Here we present the capabilities of a workflow, developed in R, to perform a series of spatial and statistical analyses on vehicle and terrain datasets to quantify the relationship between sensor data and vehicle performance in winter conditions. We implemented the R-based workflow on datasets from a large, coordinated field campaign aimed at quantifying the response of military vehicles on snow-covered terrains. This script greatly reduces processing times of these datasets by combining the GIS, data-assimilation and statistical analyses steps into one efficient and modular interface.

  • Artificial Ground Freezing Using Solar-Powered Thermosyphons

    Abstract: Thermosyphons are an artificial ground-freezing technique that has been used to stabilize permafrost since the 1960s. The largest engineered structure that uses thermosyphons to maintain frozen ground is the Trans Alaska Pipeline, and it has over 124,000 thermosyphons along its approximately 1300 km route. In passive mode, thermosyphons extract heat from the soil and transfer it to the environment when the air temperature is colder than the ground temperature. This passive technology can promote ground cooling during cold winter months. To address the growing need for maintaining frozen ground as air temperatures increase, we investigated a solar-powered refrigeration unit that could operate a thermosyphon (nonpassive) during temperatures above freezing. Our tests showed that energy generated from the solar array can operate the refrigeration unit and activate the hybrid thermosyphon to artificially cool the soil when air temperatures are above freezing. This technology can be used to expand the application of thermosyphon technology to freeze ground or maintain permafrost, particularly in locations with limited access to line power.

  • Record of Decision signed for Fort Peck Dam Environmental Impact Statement

    Col. Geoff Van Epps, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division, signed a Record of Decision for the Fort Peck Dam test releases Environmental Impact Statement on Nov. 12.

  • USACE and SFWMD celebrate Indian River Lagoon-South C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

    INDIANTOWN, Fla.-Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District (USACE) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) hosted a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the ceremonial filling of the Indian River Lagoon- South C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area. “We are here with our outstanding partners at the South Florida Water Management District to cut the ribbon and celebrate the ceremonial filling of the C-44 Reservoir,” said Col. James Booth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander. “This Everglades restoration project is massive in scale – the reservoir alone is roughly two miles by 3 miles wide. The C-44 component of the Indian River Lagoon-South project will capture, store, and treat local runoff from the C-44 basin, revitalize habitat in the Indian River Lagoon, help restore the balance of fresh and salt water in the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary, and provide significant water quality improvements.”

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District welcomes home the Dredge Jadwin and crew just in time for the holidays.

    VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District welcomed home the Dredge Jadwin and crew Nov. 18, 2021, to the Vicksburg Harbor just in time for the holidays.

  • Chicago Area Waterway System updates to Water Control Manual for area locks, dams released for public comment

    The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District is releasing for public comment the Chicago Area Waterway System Updates to the Water Control Manual for Chicago Lock and T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam draft Environmental Assessment.