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  • Evaluation of Air Combat Simulation for Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Approaches

    Abstract: Reinforcement learning (RL) is increasingly used to develop intelligent control policies for complex and dynamic systems such as air combat simulations. This report reviews several open-source frameworks, including JSBSim, FlightGear, CyberBattleSim, CloseAirCombat, and DogFight2, with a focus on their suitability for RL-based aircraft simulation and multiagent research. The evaluation considers each platform’s flexibility, ease of integration, and support for various RL methods. Based on this analysis, the report proposes a modular simulation framework that combines accurate flight dynamics with standardized RL interfacing. This work aims to accelerate research on autonomous air combat agents and provide a foundation for future advancements in multiagent RL.
  • FIMOFs: Fiber-Integrated Metal–Organic Frameworks through Electrospinning

    Abstract: Green synthesis plays a crucial role in advancing sustainability within materials science. This study explores the integration of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), obtained through green synthesis, using an electrospinning post-processing technique to develop MOF-based composite materials. The resulting novel multifunctional composites demonstrate enhanced stability and functionality, compared to their control counterparts. The integration of four types of MOFs into an electrospun fiber network was investigated using a specific polymer solution. Characterization and preliminary adsorption studies were conducted to elucidate the chemistry, morphology, and adsorptive capabilities of the resulting MOF composites. Electrospinning MOFs into polymer fibers improved their stability and dye removal capabilities. More specifically, optimization of MOF-to-polymer ratios and processing conditions yielded composites that are thermally stable, with modified surface area and porosity. Post-processing MOFs resulted in a fiber diameter increase of 44 and 109%, enhancing the composites by providing more MOF active sites and improved mechanical strength. Zirconium-based post-processed MOFs demonstrated superior dye removal, different from the copper-based dyes. Electrospinning technology has demonstrated significant potential in the fabrication of high-performance multifunctional MOF composites. This has helped to create advanced sustainable composites with tailored properties, paving the way for more targeted and efficient applications. The applications of these composites show promise for military engineering where durable, light weight, and multifunctional materials are critical in contributing to improved performance, operational efficiency, and safety.
  • MSG Carlos Espada completes 60-day SkillBridge internship with the Europe District

    Contrary to popular belief, internships are not just for college students. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District recently hosted Master Sgt. Carlos Espada for a 60-day SkillBridge internship as a Contract Specialist. This is the latest of several SkillBridge interns the district has hosted over the years.
  • Bridge Load Rating for US Army Installations: Guidance

    Abstract: This report summarizes Army policy and provides technical guidance for the load rating of vehicular and railroad bridges on US Army installations. These bridges must be load rated to determine and ensure their abilities to support the Army’s heavy military vehicles as well as all public-sector cars, trucks, or trains (in the case of railroad bridges). Installation bridge management and load ratings are accomplished under the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Army Dams and Transportation Infrastructure Program (ADTIP), with technical support from the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).
  • Ice Cutting and Removal for Cold Weather Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) Crossings

    Frozen rivers provide an obstacle for any military force, as ice impedes the use of Improved Ribbon Bridges (IRBs) or other bridging vehicles. Finding an efficient way to cut and remove ice to allow for the emplacement of bridging assets is critical. The US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory’s (CRREL) Cold Weather IRB team went to Camp Grafton, North Dakota, to collect data for the North Dakota National Guard who were conducting a frozen wet gap crossing in February of 2022. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to evaluate strategies for ice cutting, removal, and IRB placement. After ice cutting and removal, an IRB bay was successfully placed in the frozen pond. Laboratory tests were conducted in March 2022 to examine different chainsaw chains for cutting an ice sheet grown in the Geophysical Research Facility (GRF) at CRREL. Chainsaws were determined to be an effective tool for cutting ice, and the speed and comfortability of different chains were documented. The data collected from this project will help to drive the North Dakota National Guard creation of a winter bridging course and will be used to update the Army’s Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for cold weather bridging operations.
  • Artificial Intelligence R&D: A Force Multiplier for our military and nation

    From ensuring the resilience of America’s critical infrastructure to giving Warfighters a decisive edge on the battlefield, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence across the full spectrum of its civil and military missions.
  • Ice Demolition Techniques—Rapid Improved Ribbon Bridge Placement and Enemy Forces Denial: Using Traditional Military Explosives Under Ice

    Abstract: As the United States military focuses on furthering their lethality across cold regions, developing new techniques for equipment usage is necessary. On 19 March 2025, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center–Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (ERDC-CRREL) collaborated with the Army Engineers from the 50th Multi-Role Bridge Company (MRBC), 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), and Sapper Leader Course (SLC) to determine whether explosives can be used for Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) placement in ice-laden environments. As the US Army adapts to meet the evolving threats from foreign adversaries, there is an increased tactical necessity for enhanced bridging capabilities in frozen terrain. Developing an expedient method of removing ice from these waterways and placing IRBs for easy crossing of heavy military equipment is essential. Through this experiment it was determined that the use of a 40 lb cratering charge primed with M152 boosters significantly fractures the ice cover expeditiously. However, the ice expulsion rate found in this experiment was insufficient for IRB deployment which requires 60% expulsion rate. Although the experiment fell short of IRB requirements, it proved to be an efficient and effective countermobility tool for units who use frozen water ways as avenues of approach.
  • Standard Operating Procedures for the Site Selection, Design, and Maintenance of Low-Water Crossing Linear Infrastructure in Cold Regions

    Abstract: Low-water crossings (LWCs) are critical components of DoD infrastructure in Alaska and other cold regions, yet their effective siting, design, construction, and maintenance are challenged by remote locations, limited environmental data, seasonal hydrology, and complex terrain. Harsh winter conditions, rapid spring melt, and freeze–thaw cycles introduce hazards such as ice-related scour, debris loading, and variable streambed stability. In cold-region operational areas, natural processes such as permafrost degradation, shifting hydrologic regimes, and sudden flood events from glacial or thermokarst activity further increase risk to infrastructure performance and longevity. This report addresses these challenges by consolidating best practices and mitigation strategies for LWC implementation in cold environments. Drawing on technical literature, input from land managers, and existing agency standards and SOPs, the report identifies key considerations for improving LWC resilience. These include accounting for ice forces, complex geotechnical challenges, sediment transport, and the use of appropriate materials to name a few. By framing LWCs within a systems-based approach to site selection and engineering design, the report provides guidance for supporting safe and sustainable operations across Arctic and Subarctic training environments. It serves as a technical resource for DoD planners and engineers tasked with managing infrastructure in cold regions.
  • Fort Scott National Cemetery Lodge: Standing watch over our nation’s fallen heroes

    There is something awe-inspiring about seeing thousands of white marble headstones uniformly lined up throughout pristinely manicured grounds. Entering the iron gates of the Fort Scott National Cemetery, a quiet somberness descends as you take in the graves nestled into the hillside. While the cemetery has existed since the 1840s, it wasn’t designated as a national cemetery until 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln—making it one of the first to be dedicated to American military personnel. Back then, it was common for cemeteries to have caretakers responsible for maintaining the grounds. These caretakers and their families often lived in houses built inside the cemeteries, and at the Fort Scott National Cemetery, the caretaker’s lodge is still standing. Not only is it still standing, but it’s currently used as administrative offices, dressing rooms and storage for today’s staff.
  • Evaluation of Anchorage for the Bridge Supplemental Set: Uplift Capacity in Weak Soils and Installation Limits for the ROCK-IT Lead Section

    Abstract: Two series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the uplift capacity of Bridge Supplemental Set (BSS) anchors in weak/dense soils. Six anchors were installed in two different sites consisting of very soft soils, and tension was applied until uplift. Experimental uplift capacities were compared to theoretical minimum capacities, which proved to be a conservative way to estimate anchor capacity. Minimum average installation torque of 1,750 ft-lb was recommended. Sixteen anchors were installed in six different sites with dense soils. Soils with N values of 22 and higher prohibited anchor installation, indicating that anchors can only be installed in soils with densities up to medium dense sandy and very still clay soils.