SERDP has launched a challenge to develop aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) alternatives for Department of Defense (DoD) use in fighting fuel fires. Challenge submissions will advance the replacement of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in legacy AFFF firefighting agents. More
In 2021, SERDP is funding projects that address the two Department of Defense (DoD) environmental challenges, (1) threats to strategic movement resulting from invasive, alien terrestrial species (IATS) and (2) infrastructure system function in the face of climate and weather extremes. These projects seek to improve biosecurity and control IATS on military vehicles and cargo and develop tools to improve planning related to DoD infrastructure resilience. More
The Department of Defense (DoD) has increasingly focused on installation energy resilience, which is requiring the Services to determine current energy needs and challenges. As part of its FY21 annual solicitation, ESTCP recently funded several projects aimed at advancing energy resilience objectives. Although the DoD has pursued many renewable energy projects to achieve cost savings over the years, the projects described in this post offer solutions to address the various gaps and challenges that inhibit the successful execution of energy resilience goals. More
Over the past 20 years, ESTCP has demonstrated many technologies designed to protect and remediate groundwater impacted with chemicals of concern. While substantial progress has been made to manage Department of Defense (DoD) sites impacted by chemicals such as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), challenges remain. In 2021, ESTCP funded new projects that will demonstrate cost-effective management tools and technologies to address PFAS-impacted sites. More
Currently, SERDP and ESTCP are supporting efforts to cost-effectively recover and remove munitions in the underwater environment. SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) projects test a proof of concept over the course of approximately one year. In 2021, SERDP funded five SEED projects aimed at advancing technologies that detect, classify, and remediate military munitions at a variety of underwater sites. More
SERDP and ESTCP have supported research to advance technologies that detect, classify and remediate underwater military munitions. In 2021, SERDP funded projects that will improve wide area and detailed surveys of munitions by quickly characterizing and mapping underwater environments, detecting munitions in cluttered backgrounds, classifying targets under complex conditions, and localizing potential targets to rapidly and accurately return for removal/disposal. More
In 2021, SERDP research initiatives aim to identify and develop sustainable field repair technologies for damaged or corroded materials in advanced= generation five and future aircraft composite and metallic structure or components. The following new projects are funded to produce repair technologies for use in the depot, field, or in situ on the defense asset that restore component strength and dimension without compromising chemical and mechanical properties. More
Improved Understanding of Processes Influencing the Effectiveness and Fate of Particulate Amendments
The Department of Defense (DoD) must maintain a continuous effort to characterize, treat, monitor and manage any contaminated groundwater sites under its purview. While many sites have been cleaned up, more complex locations remain. These new SERDP projects aim to improve site management, specifically for groundwater sites impacted by chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), by improving tools and guidance for applying commercially available amendments at DoD sites. More
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the winners of the Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS Challenge, which SERDP and ESTCP co-sponsored. This challenge sought proposals for non-thermal technologies and approaches to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in concentrated aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) without producing any harmful byproducts. More
Energy control systems provide an innovative and cost-effective means to improve efficiency, expand functionality, enhance safety, and increase reliability. The trend, however, to interconnect management and monitoring capabilities through networking technologies has introduced a myriad of cyber vulnerabilities. ESTCP invested in a project to develop an automated, scalable solution for assessing the configuration of military installation energy control systems against Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements. The project is helping identify security weaknesses in critical military infrastructure and securing facilities against cyber-based threats. More