Pillars of Expertise


Over the last 30 years, ERDC has developed unique capabilities and expertise to address emerging environmental issues relating to advanced materials (nano, additive manufacturing, etc.), contaminants of concern (coal ash, depleted uranium, insensitive munitions, micro-plastics, PFAS, etc.), and other substances (e.g., cyanotoxins from harmful algal blooms). Capabilities include:

  • Analysis
  • Exposure Assessment
  • Effects Assessment
  • Risk Assessment and Management
  • Data Analytics/Information Management
 

Analysis

Identification, detection, measurement

Detection and quantification of chemicals and advanced materials of emerging environmental concern in matrices and application of forensic tools to establish chemical structure and degradation products to understand potential risks and develop effective management options.

  • Advanced analytical methods including speciation techniques
  • Ultralow detection limits
  • Interference removal in complex matrices
  • Field portable instrumentation and real-time sensors
  • Field sample collection and preservation
  • Non-targeted chemical analysis
 

Exposure Assessment

Fate and transport, site characterization, bioavailability, trophic transfer

Development and application of predictive models to enable rapid characterization and prioritization of emerging contaminants for further evaluation and sites requiring risk management.

  • Facilities for determination of physicochemical properties and biogeochemical processes
  • Multiple transport models including the GMS and SMS platforms with tools such as MODFLOW, AdH, and FRESCO
  • Advanced analytics
  • Soils science
  • Hydrodynamic and hydrological modeling
  • Sediment transport management and modeling
  • Bioavailability, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer
 

Effects Assessment

Toxicity, mode of action, adverse outcome, hazard analysis

Application of both traditional and new approach methodologies (NAMs) to understand and accurately characterize effects and quantify hazard.

  • Ecotoxicity
  • Bioassay development
  • Development/application of high-throughput NAM
  • Experimental and field sampling design
  • Forensics, toxicity identification evaluation
  • Biomimetics
  • Mechanisms of toxic action
  • Adverse outcome pathways
 

Risk Assessement and Management

Qualitative and quantitative risk characterization, alternative analysis, life cycle assessment, cost analysis, remedy development

Utilization of computational tools, screening-level risk models and comprehensive assessments to support Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) management needs and identification of treatment and remediation processes.

  • Risk characterization
  • Life cycle analysis
  • ESOH assessments
  • Alternative analysis
  • Best management practice evaluation and design
  • Bench to pilot scale demonstration / validation of remediation treatment technologies
  • Cost analysis
 

Data Analytics and Information Management

Information technology, data management, software engineering

Use of cutting-edge information technology; including high performance computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence; to better understand and manage data.

  • High performance computing (HPC) and networking
  • Software engineering and informatics
  • Data storage, archiving, and visualization
  • Decision science and decision support
  • Management Information Systems (MIS)
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications