Posted on December 9, 2024
Vicksburg, Miss.— Groundbreaking research and technologies earned the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) multiple accolades at the 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Innovation of the Year Awards.
These awards recognize successful innovations associated with the incorporation of new technologies, the novel application of science-driven methodologies, or the implementation of research and development results with the goal of enhancing the delivery of the USACE mission.
Of the 12 innovations recognized this year, four were developed by ERDC employees. Two of the teams were fully comprised of ERDC employees, while the other two teams that were honored included ERDC personnel.
The teams are:
- “Deep Learning Algorithm for Rapid Estimation of Shoreline Total Water Level from Continuously Scanning Lidar” by Adam Collins, Annika O’Dea, Katherine Brodie, A. Spicer Bak, Tyler J. Hesser, and Matthew Farthing, all from ERDC.
- “Submersible Matting System (SUBMAT)” by Timothy Rushing, Benjamin Rutherford, Meghan Buffington, Alicia Bounds, Terry Ann Stanton, Zachary Tyer, Stanly Boc Jr., Allison Hudson, and Melissa Keen, all from ERDC.
- “Fabrication of Large-Scale Replacement Parts for the Poe Lock Ship Arrestor Lever Arms through Metal Additive Manufacturing,” which was submitted by the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division and included Zachary McClelland from ERDC.
- “Mississippi River below New Orleans Notched Still Barrier,” which was submitted by the Mississippi Valley Division and included Gary Brown and Phu Luong from ERDC.
ERDC’s award recipients were proud to have been included in the awards. Adam Collins, a research physical scientist at ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) and lead author on the paper on Deep Learning Algorithm for Rapid Estimation of Shoreline Total Water Level from Continuously Scanning Lidar, said the recognition motivates him and his team to break innovative barriers and contribute to the Army’s success.
“It was an incredible honor to have our innovation recognized at this level,” said Collins. “Winning this award is a powerful motivator to continue innovating and striving for excellence. It’s a reminder of the importance of our work and the responsibility we have to deliver solutions that make a difference. This recognition inspires us to push even further, knowing that our efforts can create lasting value for the Army mission.”
Timothy Rushing, senior research engineer for the Geotechnical Structures Laboratory (GSL) and program manager for SUBMAT, credits the latest accomplishment as his best since beginning his career with ERDC almost two decades ago.
“I’ve been working with ERDC for 19 years, and this is one of my favorites, one of the most rewarding projects that I’ve ever worked on,” said Rushing. “For me and the team, the most rewarding part is seeing our technology being used and seeing something that we developed benefit the warfighter and the whole Army.”
Gary Brown, a research hydraulic engineer also with CHL, appreciates USACE recognizing ERDC’s value to their overall mission.
“We believe the concepts we implemented have general application for the mitigation of salinity intrusion in various contexts, and we are excited to explore these possibilities and see where they may be useful,” said Brown. “Winning the award reaffirms my confidence that USACE recognizes the role of innovation as a vital component of its mission.”
