#55: Testing the Future of our Nation’s Infrastructure

Once completed, a new ERDC model will fundamentally change the way navigation infrastructure components in our nation are designed, built and tested. The Hydraulic Structures Experiment and Validation Model, currently set to go into operation in 2028, will be a one-of-a-kind testbed, advancing and accelerating the revitalization of our nation’s waterways. On this episode, Dr. Charlie Burchfield and Bowen Woodson, both with ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, talk about the difference this model will make as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) seeks to modernize its aging infrastructure portfolio. Topics discussed include an overview of the model, its size and planned capabilities (1:22); the necessity driving the model’s development (2:54); and the enthusiasm within the USACE navigation community regarding its potential impact on future projects (4:23). We also discuss how the model helps reduce risk in fielding new infrastructure components (7:35) and the real-world characteristics it can emulate during testing (12:01). Watch a video of this podcast on our website at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/55-Testing-Future-Infrastructure_video.