9 May 2025

An All-Hazards Return on Investment (ROI) Model to Evaluate U.S. Army Installation Resilient Strategies

Abstract: The paper describes our project to develop, verify, and deploy an All-Hazards Return of Investment model for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to provide army installations with a decision support tool for evaluating strategies to make existing installation facilities more resilient. The need for increased resilience to extreme weather was required by U.S. code and DoD guidance, as well as an army strategic plan stipulating an ROI model to evaluate relevant resilient strategies. The ERDC integrated the University of Arkansas designed model into a new army installation planning tool and expanded the scope to evaluate resilient options from climate to all hazards. Our methodology included research on policy, data sources, resilient options, and analytical techniques, along with stakeholder interviews and weekly meetings with installation planning tool developers. The ROI model uses standard risk analysis and engineering economics terms and analyzes potential installation hazards and resilient strategies using data in the installation planning tool. The model calculates the expected net present cost without the resilient strategy, with the resilient strategy, and ROI for each. The minimum viable product ROI model was formulated mathematically, coded in Python, verified using hazard scenarios, and provided to the ERDC for implementation.

19 Feb 2025

Exploring the Convergence of Resilience Processes and Sustainable Outcomes in Post-COVID, Post-Glasgow Economies

Abstract: Resilience and sustainability have each offered a path forward for post-COVID economic recovery and a post-Glasgow global financial order. Yet, the relationships between these two concepts are largely unexplored in economic policy and investment strategies. In light of emerging systemic risks and global demands for more resolute investments in resilience and sustainability, this perspective article took the position that policymakers must begin to draw greater conceptual, empirical, and practical linkages between sustainability and resilience. This perspective article provided a simplified framework for understanding the positively reinforcing, negatively conflicting, and neutral relationships between different types of resilience and sustainability consistent with two propositions. The Reinforcement Proposition argues (i) that various resilience processes may drive sustainable outcomes, and/or (ii) that an allocation of sustainable resources may reinforce resilience processes, as well as the transformative adaptation of markets. Conversely, the Conflict Proposition argues (i) that certain resilience processes may perpetuate stability features that may thwart an economic transition toward sustainability, and/or (ii) that certain sustainability outcomes associated with reorganized economic structures and relationships may undermine resources for resilience. This framework provides policymakers with an opportunity to evaluate the convergent and conflicting trade-offs of resilience processes and sustainable outcomes.

3 Dec 2024

ERDC Celebrates Milestone with GridStar® Flow Battery Installation at Fort Carson

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center's (ERDC) Operational Energy (OE) team is celebrating the construction and installation of the GridStar® Flow system, a redox flow battery solution designed for long-duration, large-capacity energy storage applications. The flow system is installed at Fort Carson, Colorado, and ERDC has led the technical evaluation and project management since 2022.

20 Mar 2024

Balancing Climate Resilience and Adaptation for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Building Institutional Capacity

Abstract: Although the Caribbean's Small Island Developing States (SIDS) minimally contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, they face disproportionate climate risks and are particularly susceptible to systemic economic threats posed by climate change and subsequent increases in climate variability. Historically, strategic programs and investments have sought to develop more robust and adaptive engineered systems to absorb climate threats. However, such initiatives are limited and under-resourced in the SIDS’ context. This article reviews existing climate strategies in the Caribbean and then critically examines current gaps and barriers relating to climate impact knowledge, needs, and implementation. This examination can assist Caribbean SIDS leadership to identify opportunities to transition from a vulnerability-reducing mindset to one of resilience and transformative adaptation to improve long-term economic outlooks, social welfare, and environmental stewardship despite recurring and escalating climate risks.

8 Jan 2024

RISC TAMER Framework: Resilient Installation Support Against Compound Threats Analysis and Mitigation for Equipment and Resources Framework

Every day, decision-makers must allocate resources based on the best available information at the time. Military installations face a variety of threats which challenge sustained functionality of their supporting and supported deployable systems. Considering the compounding and interdependent impacts of the threats, both specified (what is known) and unspecified (what is not known) and the investments needed to address these threats adds value to the decision-making process. Current risk management practices are generally evaluated via scenario analyses that do not consider compound threats, resulting in limited risk management solutions. Current practices also challenge the ability of decision-makers to increase resilience against such threats. The Resilient Installation Support against Compound Threats Analysis and Mitigation for Equipment and Resources (RISC TAMER) Framework establishes a decision support structure to identify and categorize system components, compound threats and risks, and system relationships to provide decision-makers with more complete and comprehensive information from which to base resilience-related decisions, for prevention and response. This paper focuses on the development process for RISC TAMER framework to optimize resilience enhancements for a wide variety of deployable systems in order to implement resilience strategies to protect assets, to increase adaptability, and to support power projection and global operations.

2 Mar 2023

USACE hosts charrette, public scoping meeting for St. Augustine Back Bay CSRM Feasibility Study

St. Augustine, Fla. – Feb. 24, 2023 -- Jacksonville District’s St. Augustine Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study took two big steps forward when the district and its non-federal sponsor, the City of St. Augustine, began a three-day charrette and held a public meeting to introduce residents to the study’s issues and aims.

1 Feb 2023

USACE and SFWMD announce four virtual workshops in February for development of C&SF Flood Resiliency Study alternatives

The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District will host a series of four virtual workshops in February as part of the C&SF Flood Resiliency Study. Each workshop is a standalone session that will focus on development of preliminary alternatives for one of the planning reaches discussed at the planning charrettes held on January 11 and 12. Each session will also include a recap of the problems, opportunities, objectives, and constraints collaboratively developed on the first day of the planning charrette. The management measures and conceptual ideas developed for each planning reach on day 2 of the charrettes held in January will provide the starting point for preliminary alternative development. Series of Four Virtual Workshops for Development of Alternatives for the C&SF Flood Resiliency Study in February Session 1 - Reach A: Broward and Hillsboro Basins: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Session 2 – Reach B: Little River and Nearby Basins: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Session 3 - Reach C: Miami River and Nearby Basins: Thursday, February 16, 2023, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Session 4 – Reach D: South Miami Basins: Friday, February 17, 2023, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

18 Nov 2022

USACE announces two Public NEPA Scoping Meetings on Nov. 28 and extends public comment on New C&SF Flood Resiliency Study to Dec. 7

USACE invites the participation of Federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, local agencies, and interested stakeholders in providing comments and identifying any issues or concerns. Two virtual Public NEPA Scoping Meetings will be held on Monday, November 28. The first will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the second will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meetings will include a short presentation about the study and the NEPA process, followed by a comment period to receive feedback on the flood risk problems, including what is important to stakeholders when we look at the problems and potential solutions. The NEPA Scoping comment period is being extended through Wednesday December 7, 2022, to allow additional time due to the effects of Hurricane Nichole and the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.

7 Nov 2022

Cold Regions Vehicle Start: Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Battery Technologies for Stryker Vehicles

Abstract: Operating vehicles in extremely cold environments is a significant problem for not only the public but also the military. The Department of Defense has encountered issues when trying to reliably cold start large, heavy-duty military vehicles, specifically the M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle, in cold regions. As noted in previous work, the issue stems from the current battery technology’s limited temperature range. This current project utilized the protocol established in the previous phase to evaluate next-generation lithium-ion battery technologies for use in cold regions. Selected battery technologies met necessary military specifications for use in large military combat vehicles and were evaluated using a mechanical load system developed in previous work to simulate the starting of a Stryker engine. This work also evaluated the performance of the existing battery technology of a Stryker under Alaskan winter temperatures, which will verify the accuracy of the simulated cold room testing on the mechanical load system. The results of the tests showed that while the system was able to reliably operate down to −20°C, the battery management system encountered challenges at the lower end of the temperature range. This technology has a potential to reliably support cold regions operations but needs further evaluation.

28 Oct 2022

USACE Seeks Public Comments on New C&SF Flood Risk Management Study

The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is preparing a National Environmental Policy Act document for a proposed flood risk management study initiated under the authority of Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 within the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project. USACE invites the participation of Federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, local agencies, and interested stakeholders in providing comments and identifying any issues or concerns. Comments are due by Nov. 28.