ERDC-ITL: Broad Agency Announcement

Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) calls for research proposals in the following research areas.

A. Computer-Aided Engineering (ITL-1)

Through the Computer-Aided Structural Engineering (CASE) Project, research is performed in development of computer tools and procedures for use in the design of structures utilized in the Corps' Civil Works mission. Research is performed related to risk analysis, engineering reliability, and computer science techniques to enhance computational capabilities for solution of scientific and engineering problems. Graphical user interfaces and data presentation/visualization techniques are developed. Solid modeling techniques are being studied for three-dimensional (3-D) structure representation. Accuracy of computational results is a matter of deep concern for many of the numerical procedures used by ERDC and other Corps offices. Innovations in numerical analysis are continuously investigated to save costs in computer time and ensure confidence in computation results, especially as applied to different size computers. Interface systems for electronic transfer of computer-generated drawings between minicomputer- and microcomputer-based hardware are investigated. Military-related research work includes development of a rapid interactive 3-D structural computer modeling system to aid in the analysis/design of structures under 3-D dynamic and static loadings. Assessment of load capacity of structures when material data and geometry are incomplete is also being investigated. (Contact: Mr. Wayne Jones, 601-634-3758)

B. Information Technology (ITL-2)

Applied research is conducted in designing and deploying large information systems in enterprise-wide operating environments. An area of emphasis is large on-line databases to be used concurrently by many geographically dispersed users via Intranet and/or Internet access from a PC. Both thick and thin clients are of interest. Studies and evaluations are being conducted on state-of-the-art software engineering methodologies advocated by researchers in universities and industry. Investigations may be conducted on any phase of software development, deployment, and operation. Also subject to study are the operational infrastructure and the effect of the infrastructure on the performance of software systems as perceived by the end user. An area of special interest is the design and execution of many user performance tests. The purpose of these tests may be to predict operational performance of a given infrastructure under a specified workload or to design an infrastructure to achieve a given level of performance under a specified workload.

Basic and applied research is conducted in developing and applying new numerical simulation techniques to model continuum and discrete mechanics, hierarchical and nonhierarchical organizations, and inorganic and organic systems. These techniques include agent-based or cellular automata-based modeling, finite difference/finite element techniques, artificial intelligence systems, boundary element methods, discrete deformation analysis, discrete element codes, and other techniques. (Contact: Dr. Cary Butler, 601-634-4410)

Research is planned in advancing collaborative capabilities combining evolving communications technology and multi-media presentation capability. This may involve automation/integration of media presentation considering such areas as documents, graphic arts, audio, video, and interactive presentations. Electronic flow of report information including management, searching, routing, tracking, and simultaneous review is also of interest. Additional research is planned in other information technology areas such as scientific visualization, advanced topics in data, voice, and video transmission using evolving communication systems and their integrations with other information systems, innovations in library science to expand organization, and accessibility of all media and visual information. (Contact: Mrs. Alice Duke, 601-634-3667)

C. Computer-Aided Design and Drafting/Geographical Information System Technologies (ITL-3)

Through the CADD/GIS Technology Center for Facilities, Infrastructure, and Environment, research is performed to support the application of computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), facility management (FM), and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies in new and existing mission areas within the DoD and other participating Federal agencies (particularly as applied to facilities, infrastructure, and the environment). CADD/GIS/FM capability is being widely integrated into the planning, engineering, construction, and facility management responsibilities of the three Services, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and industry. Due to the expanding development of computer methods to meet the demands of technological advancements, interfacing these methods with CADD/GIS/FM platforms is especially crucial. As the usage of CADD/GIS/FM evolves and expands, the need to integrate other existing design and analysis computer tools, including relational databases, spatial data analysis, automated cost estimating, and specification generation, etc., with CADD/GIS/FM systems and to evaluate new applications for use by Federal agencies, state and local governments, and industry is of primary interest. Applications would be expected to interface with a variety of CADD/GIS/FM platforms, including the latest computer operating systems used by Federal agencies, state and local governments, and industry. Other research includes productivity studies and criteria requirements for new technology development, self-instructional training guides, and pilot projects in technology usage. (Contact: Mr. Harold L. Smith, 601-634-4190)

D. High Performance Computing (HPC) and Networking (ITL-4)

Through the ERDC HPC Major Shared Resource Center, located in ITL, research is performed to support the application of advanced HPC systems and networking technologies to Science and Technology (S&T) R&D efforts within the Department of Defense (DoD). Of special interest are technologies, services, and techniques for innovative access to and workflow management on HPC resources by a distributed user community, for example, Web-based visualization tools and techniques for content-based management and analysis of terabyte-scale data; the application of scalable parallel architectures and associated algorithms to DoD S&T R&D applications; and the instrumentation of scientific applications for gathering performance metrics and development of tools for automating that instrumentation. (Contact: Mr. John E. West, 601-634-3629)

E. Corps of Engineers Enterprise Infrastructure Services (CEEIS) (ITL-5)

The Corps of Engineers Enterprise Infrastructure Services (CEEIS) Program Management Office, located in the ITL, supports research to maintain state-of-the-art systems and networks in the Corps of Engineers. Development and design of advanced networking and security technologies are applied to the Corps' corporate information technology architecture as well as interfacing with U.S. Army, DoD, and public customers. This unit operates the Corps-wide networking, security, and computing infrastructure including wide area networking, layered security model, enterprise-level centralized applications, business contingency designs and deployments, and network and systems management functions. This operational arm of ITL provides additional experience and insight into enterprise management and designs to assist in research missions. The CEEIS office assists customers inside and outside USACE in the design and deployment of IT infrastructures and services. In addition, development and design in systems, database management, and storage area network engineering are conducted to sustain a viable, robust enterprise computing infrastructure. (Contact: Dr. Peggy Wright, 601-634-4630)

F. Sensors, sensor systems, data acquisition, processing, and transmission systems (ITL-6)

Research and development is conducted in the general area of sensors, automatic data acquisition systems, automatic data processing and interpretation systems, data storage systems, and data and information transmission systems that support military engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, and homeland defense. Some specific areas of interest include artificial neural networks for processing and interpretation of sensory data; ultra-wideband radar beam steering; low-leakage, high-voltage microelectromechanical systems voltage generators; new methods for displaying data; graphical user interfaces for controlling sensors or displaying sensor output; sensors and sensor systems for intruder detection; feedback control systems for protecting structures and other assets from chemical and biological weapons; smart sensors that process and interpret their data and provide information to the user as opposed to just data; agent-based sensory systems; micro-sensors; advanced very-high-resolution acoustic imaging systems for inspecting underwater structures or monitoring marine life in turbid water; methods to classify underwater acoustical moving targets; advanced high-speed and/or very-high-shock data acquisition systems; advanced seismic, infrared, optical, and acoustic sensors; advanced charge-coupled device (CDD)-based sensory systems; high-shock, high-frequency sensors; stress, displacement, pressure, and chemical sensors; digital sensing methods; electromagnetic sensors for all parts of the spectrum (radar, infrared, microwave, x-ray, radio, visible light); sensors for monitoring structural response, for monitoring the conditions at dams or locks, for measuring sediment transport, for measuring roadbed or bridge response, for measuring stream velocity gradients, or for measuring pollutants; and novel supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. (Contact: Dr. Charles R. Welch, 601-634-3297).

Deadline: Continues. This BAA supersedes all previous editions and shall remain in effect until superseded.

For further information, visit: http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/contract/other.asp