Researchers and engineers from the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a preliminary design for an integrated system to detect and classify unexploded ordnance in shallow water. Their Multi-Sensor Towbody (MuST) is intended to survey depths from 20 – 120 feet deep (6 – 36 meters) by accurately controlling the height and location of sensors above the seabed while being towed by a support vessel.

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Dr. Pedro Alvarez at Rice University, along with Dr. Charles Newell and Dr. David Adamson at GSI Environmental have developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled, “Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, New Technologies, New Applications”. The course has been developed under ESTCP project  ER-201572, one of the 8 projects associated with the Environmental Restoration Program Area that focuses on innovative technology transfer to end users.

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The ESTCP Energy and Water Program Area team attended the 2016 Energy Exchange held in Providence, Rhode Island from August 9 to 11, 2016. The conference was well attended and presented the perfect opportunity for the SERDP and ESTCP Office staff to meet with energy and water professionals from the DoD, other federal agencies and the private sector.

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Zirconium-based pretreatments are being demonstrated by Army Research Laboratory, led by Fred Lafferman - project WP-201318, to test their effectiveness as a replacement for zinc-phosphate on steel and for chromate conversion coatings and etch-primers on aluminum substrates. 

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The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North American Monsoon (NAM) play a large role in the weather in North America. In the summer, the NAM brings large-scale wind and rainfall to otherwise parched regions of the American Southwest and Mexico. The impacts of the NAM weather patterns extend throughout North America. Scientists fear climate change may cause the ENSO and NAM to slow down or even stop with dramatic implications to temperatures around the globe. 

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This is the time of year when the rhythms of the summer kick in. Many of you are planning a late-summer getaway, I’m coming off three week’s immersion in the Tour de France, and those starting school in the Fall are shopping for supplies. In addition to all that, it’s a busy time in the SERDP and ESTCP Office. This is the time of the year that we are putting the final touches on the FY-17 program for both programs.

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Newly available advanced time-domain electromagnetic induction (TEM) systems and software – both developed under SERDP and ESCTP research efforts – can significantly reduce the quantity of scrap metal that must be removed during a munitions response project. One of the key components of the application of advanced geophysical classification to munitions response projects is a well-documented and complete library of electromagnetic induction (EMI) signatures of potential Targets of Interest (TOI). More

SERDP funded research is making important advances in the application of synthetic biology tools to the production of energetic materials. Energetic materials, like propellants, explosives, and the constituents that make up these materials, are currently produced by chemical processes that often generate significant quantities of hazardous waste and subsequent environmental issues. Advances in synthetic biology offer the Department of Defense (DoD) opportunities to replace or significantly reduce problematic chemical processes.  More

ESTCP is gearing up for the 2016 Energy Exchange to be held August 9 to 11, 2016 in Providence, Rhode Island. We hope to see you there! More

In 2015, ESTCP released a solicitation to specifically develop innovative technology transfer approaches. Thirteen projects were selected for funding, and these projects are beginning to generate some of the planned technology transfer products. One of these projects is led by Dr. Lee Slater of Rutgers University, focused on facilitating effective use of geophysics for environmental characterization and monitoring at DoD sites.  More