Episodes

  • #64: TAK: Global situational awareness tool for Warfighters, first responders

    #64: TAK: Global situational awareness tool for Warfighters, first responders
    Jun 23 2026
    Originally developed to provide global operational reach for elite special operations units, the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) — also known as the Tactical Assault Kit — has matured into an advanced situational awareness ecosystem. This powerful suite of geospatial mapping applications and mission-planning tools delivers secure, real-time communication and critical data to operators across the Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security and local emergency response teams. In this episode, we are joined by Katlyn Mityga with the ERDC Geospatial Research Laboratory, who also serves as the Business Operations Lead for the TAK Product Center. Topics include an overview of TAK's capabilities for the military, first responders, and law enforcement (1:22); how the system's plug-in architecture enables continuous software development from the private sector (5:07); and the importance of user and vendor interactions at the annual off-site meeting (5:54). We also cover ERDC's role in system management and product development (7:49); TAK's early utility for special operations forces (9:59); and how emergency teams used TAK to coordinate the 2024 Texas flood response, gathering real-time data that was ultimately used to brief the President (12:10). Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/64-TAK-Geospatial-Awareness-Tool_video.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • #63: Accelerating port assessments for contested logistics

    #63: Accelerating port assessments for contested logistics
    Jun 16 2026
    In contested operations, ports are no longer assumed to be available, secure, or fully functional. They are high-risk nodes that can be degraded, denied, or destroyed, placing immediate pressure on logistics timelines and mission execution. Dr. Aaron Byrd, ERDC research civil engineer, is advancing how the Army addresses that challenge. His work centers on developing digital tools that provide planners with immediate access to global port data and the ability to rapidly assess infrastructure performance under uncertain conditions. The Port Operations Rating Tool (PORT) integrates worldwide port characteristics into a smart web-based platform, allowing planners to evaluate throughput, identify constraints, and make data-driven decisions in real time. The System for Port Expeditionary Assessment and Repair (SPEAR) builds on that capability by enabling rapid assessment of port capacity against repair timelines, transforming analysis that once took weeks into decisions made in minutes. Together, these tools reduce reliance on vulnerable infrastructure, support identification of alternate ports, and enable faster deployment of engineering assets. The result is a more resilient logistics network and increased speed of global force projection in contested environments. On this episode, Byrd explains how PORT delivers accessible, integrated port intelligence for planning and execution (5:02); how SPEAR reduces throughput assessments from weeks to minutes (11:21); and how both tools enable identification of resilient logistics hubs and alternate ports to sustain operations in contested environments (14:24). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/63-accelerating-port-assessments-contested-logistics_resources for more information. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/63-accelerating-port-assessments-contested-Logistics_video.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • #62: Advanced Materials: Novel polymer research unlocks unique properties

    #62: Advanced Materials: Novel polymer research unlocks unique properties
    Jun 8 2026
    From energy absorption to temperature resistance to self-healing, polymers hold vast potential. ERDC is combining its historic materials expertise with cutting-edge polymer research to unlock unique properties for the Warfighter and the nation. ERDC’s work is enabling advanced materials with diverse military and civil works applications, such as stopping projectiles, resisting corrosion and visualizing shockwaves. On today’s episode, we discuss ERDC’s advanced materials research with Dr. Travis Thornell and Dane Wedgeworth, both research physical scientists at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. Topics include how ERDC’s polymer science research has grown over the past decade (1:06) and some its biggest success stories (9:32), how that research builds on ERDC’s deep expertise in materials (3:44), and the advantages of using polymers for civil works and military projects (13:00). We also discuss ERDC’s current materials science research (16:09), including a project that invented a new 3D-printable material for electronics (22:18) and another that developed a polymer material capable of visualizing shockwaves (24:25). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/62-advanced-materials_resources for more information. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/62-advanced-materials_video.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • #61: ERDC collaboration with industry is accelerating operational energy capabilities

    #61: ERDC collaboration with industry is accelerating operational energy capabilities
    Jun 2 2026
    Modern military command and control units demand an unprecedented amount of power in the field, pushing traditional fuel resupply lines to their logistical limits and risking Warfighter lives. To confront this challenge, and overcome the risk to life and equipment, the Department of War and ERDC are accelerating the development of operational energy sources to ensure mission success and find significant cost savings. In this episode, Dr. Jess Lyons, a research scientist with the Operational Energy Team at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, explains how ERDC is leveraging industry partnerships to rapidly develop, ruggedize, and field-test innovative operational energy systems that provide reliable power, cut fuel consumption and costs, and better serve our Armed Forces. Topics include a look at power demands for today’s command and control units (1:39); the real logistical, financial and human cost of current operational energy systems and resupply efforts (3:07); and an overview of the hybrid energy systems produced by industry partner LEMA currently being tested and deployed (10:03). We also discuss ERDC’s role in testing and ruggedizing these systems (14:41), the critically important feedback from military personnel in advancing new technologies (16:52), and why the demand for these operational energy systems has increased so rapidly in recent years (27:38). For more information, visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/61-Frontline-Energy-Systems_resources. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/61-Frontline-Energy-Systems_video.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • #60: Building Airfields at the Speed of Mission

    #60: Building Airfields at the Speed of Mission
    May 26 2026
    In a contested environment, the ability to land, refuel and launch aircraft can determine mission success. Dr. Abby Cisko, a research mechanical engineer at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, is helping modernize how U.S. Forces build and sustain expeditionary airfields in austere conditions. Legacy airfield matting systems, like the decades-old AM2, remain effective but come with significant logistical challenges. Heavy, difficult to transport, and labor intensive to install, these systems can slow deployment timelines when speed is most critical. Cisko and her team are addressing that challenge through the development of the Airfield Mat Lightweight system (AML), an alternative designed to reduce weight, improve transport efficiency, and accelerate installation while maintaining operational performance. Cisko explains how the AML system is reshaping logistics by reducing transport requirements and enabling rapid construction of parking areas, taxiways, and fighter hide pads in a matter of days. She also highlights lessons learned from a recent large-scale demonstration in Guam, where direct feedback from Warfighters helped refine both the system design and the technical guidance needed for field use. Topics discussed include how AML improves deployment speed and reduces logistical burden (4:23); how Warfighter feedback is shaping system design and usability (9:31); and how new coating technologies and reusable materials extend the lifespan and flexibility of expeditionary airfield systems (20:29). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_resources for more information about the AML system. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_video.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • #59: Expedition ARCHIE: Water resilience for Arctic installations

    #59: Expedition ARCHIE: Water resilience for Arctic installations
    May 19 2026
    Water is critical to life and essential for Warfighter operations. However, accessing it in frigid Arctic conditions can be a challenge. To meet this need, a portable water treatment system developed by ERDC was successfully demonstrated at the U.S. Department of War’s northernmost installation. The Deployable Resilient Installation water Purification and treatment System (DRIPS) supplied potable water at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. The test occurred during Expedition ARCHIE (the Arctic Resource Conservation Hydration Innovation Experiment), an international collaboration between ERDC, the U.S. Space Force and the Danish Defence Estate Agency. Joining us to discuss how DRIPS can improve water supply in the Arctic is Dr. Clint Smith, a senior research biologist at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory. Topics include the challenge of water resilience in the Arctic (1:28), the capabilities of the DRIPS system (9:12) and how it performed at Expedition ARCHIE (15:59). We also talk about ERDC’s participation in an international collaboration for Polar research (4:26), how DRIPS benefits from ERDC’s multidisciplinary expertise (20:47) and how the team is working with industry to rapidly transition the technology (24:00). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/59-Expedition-ARCHIE_resources for more information about DRIPS and the experiment at Pituffik Space Base. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/59-Expedition-ARCHIE_video.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • #58: Building Energy Resilience in the Arctic & Elsewhere

    #58: Building Energy Resilience in the Arctic & Elsewhere
    May 12 2026
    As the Department of War increases its focus on the Arctic, ensuring our forces can operate effectively in one of the world's harshest environments has become a critical priority. From energy and infrastructure to the simple challenge of keeping equipment from freezing, the region’s demands require new and creative solutions, including the Mobile Insulation System for Energy Reduction (MISER). Justine Yu, a research architect with ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, discusses MISER’s development, its deployment to the Army, and the impact it and similar technologies can have on maximizing and protecting energy in austere environments. Topics include how and why MISER was developed (4:23), the importance of a blanket-like system such as MISER for equipment operations in the Arctic (5:16), and results and feedback from MISER’s recent deployment and testing in Alaska (6:11). We also discuss the Arctic Infrastructure Research Group, of which Yu is a part (1:36), and some of the group’s shared solutions (2:28). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/58-Resilient-Energy-In-The-Arctic_video.
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • #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
    May 5 2026
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins