Integrated Terrain Analysis Program Sponsors and Principal Activity

Department of Defense Sponsors and Principal Activity

ERDC Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)

  • Terrain evaluation for mobility in areas of interest across eastern Europe
  • Identifying U.S. analog soil-terrain sites representing eastern Europe and the Korean Peninsula
  • Technology development to characterize important soil parameters for IED/landmine detection
  • Advancing technology to measure soil dust emission at high wind speeds and high flux rates
  • Determining areas of high dust emission potential across the southwestern U.S.
  • Developed methods for UAS-based thermal and optical sensors to predict subsurface moisture
  • Developed methods for remote sensing imagery to predict soil strength for military operations

Army Research Office (2003-2012)

  • Developed methods to predict soil/terrain conditions in areas of interest for military operations
  • Characterized soil strength parameters for military installations in tropic, temperate, polar, and desert regions
  • Developed technology to measure and monitor energy and mass balance across the soil-atmosphere boundary
  • Developed new cost-effective methods to monitor ecosystem status, enhancing range sustainability
  • Produced an innovative, cost-effective, soil-terrain model to predict location of cultural resource features
  • Developed and tested portable technology for the rapid measurement of soil dust emission in remote locations

Army Yuma Proving Ground (1998-2018)

  • High-resolution measurements of surface roughness for vehicle mobility and durability test courses
  • Measurement of soil dielectric, seismic, thermal, and physical attributes: landmine/C-IED test lanes
  • Developed technology to measure and monitor Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) type dust clouds
  • Produced global physiographic, landcover, and climatic maps defining Military Operating Environments
  • Investigated desert dust impacts on military equipment as applied to test operations
  • Produced a series of soil and terrain maps linking YPG test areas with countries of interest
  • Developing a GIS geospatial platform enhancing access to 20 years of YPG soil and terrain test data
  • Comprehensive soil and terrain characterization of vehicle durability, mobility, and dust test courses
  • Conducted cultural resource investigations to enhance use of YPG terrain for test operations
  • Soil characterization for heavy vehicle test courses in Suriname

Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) (2009–2012)

  • Analysis of ground impacts to radio frequency propagation
  • Soil geophysical research and characterization of the YPG Joint Experimental Range Complex (JERC) in support of counter-IED operations

Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt Air Force Base (2009–2011)

  • Development of comprehensive dust emission data for dust/sand storm forecasting in USACENTCOM AOR
  • Generated detailed landform and land cover maps for CENTCOM AOR

Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine (2005-2007)

  • Enhanced particulate matter (dust/aerosols) surveillance for Forward Operating Bases across southwest Asia
  • Determined military personnel exposure levels of chemical elements in soils and dust

Other Department of Defense Project Sponsors

  • Combat Capabilities Development Command (formerly Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
  • Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, ERDC-CRREL (NVESD)
  • Strategic Environmental Research and Development program (SERDP)
  • US Military academy (USMA) West Point
  • Air Force Research laboratory (AFRL)

CONTACT

Brad Sion, Ph.D.
Program Director
Brad.Sion@dri.edu

LAB LOCATION

Desert Research Institute
2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno, NV 89512

DIVISION

Earth & Ecosystem Sciences