Abstract: Acoustic tags and a process for fabrication are disclosed for identifying and tracking various hosts including inanimate and animate objects in up to three dimensions. The acoustic tags may be powered by a single power source. Tags can have an operation lifetime of up to 90 days or longer at a transmission rate of 3 seconds. The acoustic tags have an enhanced signal range that enhances detection probability when tracking the hosts.

Abstract: Injectable acoustic tags and a process of making are described for tracking host animals in up to three dimensions. The injectable acoustic tags reduce adverse biological effects and have a reduced cost of manufacture compared with conventional surgically implanted tags. The injectable tags are powered by a single power source with a lifetime of greater than 30 days. The injectable tags have an enhanced acoustic signal transmission range that enhances detection probability for tracking of host animals.

Abstract: Soil-filled barriers, normally filled with heavy equipment, can be made quickly effective against small arms fire by modifying each cell of a barrier line (wall) with internal closeable gates that allow users to manually shovel fill a small arms security position in 65% less time than manually filling a standard barrier. Select embodiments of the present invention include gates that are inexpensive and lightweight compared to alternatives and readily fielded, in some instances as a field expedient modification. In select embodiments of the present invention the gates may be integrated into fielded conventional barriers, including employing field expedient means, as well as incorporated into production lines of new barriers specifically for use by light military units that operate in restrictive terrain.

Abstract: Acoustic tags and a process for fabrication are disclosed for identifying and tracking various hosts including inanimate and animate objects in up to three dimensions. The acoustic tags may be powered by a single power source. Tags can have an operation lifetime of up to 90 days or longer at a transmission rate of 3 seconds. The acoustic tags have an enhanced signal range that enhances detection probability when tracking the hosts.

Abstract: A Hardened Alternative Trailer System (HATS) is described, including methods of producing same. HATS has superior blast, ballistic and forced entry protection properties, relative to existing structures, due to particular features of frame design and construction methods. Furthermore, HATS is a low-cost reinforced ISO container suitable for field and/or remote fabrication and meets blast, ballistic/projectile and/or forced entry threats such as the U.S. Department of State Certification Standard SD-STD-01.01, Revision G.

Abstract: Injectable acoustic tags and a process of making are described for tracking host animals in up to three dimensions. The injectable acoustic tags reduce adverse biological effects and have a reduced cost of manufacture compared with conventional surgically implanted tags. The injectable tags are powered by a single power source with a lifetime of greater than 30 days. The injectable tags have an enhanced acoustic signal transmission range that enhances detection probability for tracking of host animals.

Abstract: A system to detect subsurface activity. The system employs vibration sensor pairs, with each sensor pair having a shallow sensor and a deep sensor. Outputs of the sensors of a pair are processed together and events are detected based on the relative values detected by the sensors of the pair. When signal energy departs from a detected background level, the relative amplitude and frequency content of vibrations measured at the shallow and deep sensors may be compared. The comparison may be performed, at least in part, using a classifier that discriminates between subsurface activity and surface to activity. The outputs of sensor pairs may be aggregated to make a determination of whether subsurface activity exists and/or its location. Aggregation may involve comparing the outputs of the same sensor pair at multiple time intervals or may involve comparing the outputs of arrayed sensor pairs.

Abstract: A mat for covering soil comprising a lower fabric layer, an upper fabric layer superimposed over the lower fabric layer, and a water absorbing material interposed between said lower fabric layer and upper fabric layer. The mat contains tubular segments containing fabric and hydraulically setting cement. The cover, when wetted, becomes ballasted by the absorbed water and the tubular elements harden to form rigid ribs that hold the mat in conformity with the surface of the underlying soil.

Abstract: A biofilter reactor includes a housing, an axial pipe rotatably supported in the housing and including a plurality of perforations that open into the interior of the housing for collecting a treated fluid. The axial pipe includes an outlet in communication with the interior thereof for removing the treated fluid from the housing. A porous medium is disposed about the axial pipe and is rotatable therewith. The porous medium is made of a microbial foam.

Abstract: Plastic, paper, aluminum foil, or aluminum foil laminated with plastic bags are dispensed, one at a time, from a bag dispenser. In a first embodiment, bags are provided in rolls, connected top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom. Each bag is tapered towards its bottom such that its top-to-top connection with the next bag is wider than the bottom-to-bottom connection. Each bottom-to-bottom connection has sealed seams, which ensure that the bags are closed at their bottoms, and a row of closely spaced perforations on a connecting portion between two seams, which allow adjacent bags to be separated by pulling and tearing along the row of perforations. In an alternate embodiment of this invention, a plurality of tapered bags is nested with one bag inside the next adjacent bag. The bags are tapered at both sides such that their bottoms are narrower than their tops. At their tops, they are attached to strips of materials that are in turn attached to each other by conventional means such as staples.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment permits the safe navigation of a channel or harbor by a ship. A preferred embodiment includes a ship-borne system having a first global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a second fixed reference station with a GPS receiver. Both GPS receivers have GPS signal receiving antennas. Earth orbiting satellites of the GPS maintain communication at both locations via the two receive antennas. A broadcast radio transmitter at the reference station transmits a received GPS signal to the ship-based GPS antenna for receipt by the ship's separate radio receiver and processing by a computer. Using known navigation chart information on the water depths within a body of water, channel or harbor, known marine surveyor data, including the phase center of the ship-borne GPS receive antenna, and the two separately received GPS signals, the ship's keel clearance referenced to a known chart datum is calculated at one second intervals.

Abstract: Filter elements for draining wastewater into the soil in leach fields comprise net sacks filled with scrap rubber or plastic chips and supplied with fabric filter cloth. Leach fields are constructed by excavating trenches, placing a first row of filter elements at the bottom of the trenches, installing a drain pipe on top of the row of filter elements, placing a second row of filter elements on top of the first row and the drain pipe, overlapping the pieces of filter cloth to provide a barrier to the surrounding soil, and backfilling the trench with soil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a groundwater sampling device into the ground includes a generally cylindrical housing open at top and bottom end portions and defining a recess therein. An expendable tip member is removably connected to the bottom and portion of the housing. A well tubing or casing is positioned generally centrally in the recess and includes top and bottom end portions. An elongated spiral-wound cylinder is slidably positioned in the recess of the housing and in a surrounding relationship to the tubing. The tubing is attached to the tip member at the bottom end portion thereof and includes a lower section having a plurality of perforations about the periphery thereof to allow fluid to enter the interior of the tubing.

Abstract: A method of forming low lead leaching foamed concrete is provided. The method includes the step of dry mixing cement with a suspending agent to form a dry mixture. Water is mixed with a fine aggregate to form an aqueous mixture. The dry mixture is mixed into the aqueous mixture to form a slurry. Calcium phosphate is mixed into the slurry until all constituents are throughly distributed throughout the resulting mixture. The density of the resulting mixture is determined and an aqueous foam is added to the resulting mixture until the density of the resulting mixture is reduced to a desired level. Fibers are mixed into the resulting mixture until the fiber is distributed throughout the final mixture. The final mixture is placed into a mold. The mixture is allowed to harden and cure.

Abstract: A method for measuring depths of a waterway, including the steps of determining nautical chart vertical reference values along a selected waterway, building a data base of the reference values and storing the data base in a computer accessible from the vessel, providing a radio receiver onboard the vessel and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment accessible from the vessel, and operating the computer, radio receiver, and GPS equipment to continuously obtain positions of the vessel horizontally, and computations as to depth of the vessel above a pertinent vertical reference value.

Abstract: A probe for monitoring groundwater flow seepage velocity and direction has an electrical heater and a plurality of temperature sensors located equidistant from the heater. The probe with the heater and temperature sensors is lowered into a monitoring well and positioned so as to be immersed in the groundwater. Energy is sent to the heater, and the temperature response at the temperature sensors is measured and recorded. From the measured response to temperature, the groundwater flow velocity and direction are computed and recorded. The temperature sensors may be resistance temperature detectors, thermocouples, or any other state-of-the-art temperature sensing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and monitoring scouring around a structural mer uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment around a submerged portion of the structural member such as a bridge pier, dock, utility crossing, or similar structure. The apparatus includes a time domain reflectometer which transmits a series of electrical pulses, a sensor which is connected with said time-domain reflectometer, and a signal analyzer which receives and interprets the portion of the electrical pulses reflected back to the source from an interface, such as water/air or water/gravel, to calculate the position of the interface along the sensor. Knowledge of the position of the interfaces before and after a scouring event and of the dielectric constant of the surrounding media allows the user to detect and monitor the level of erosion caused by scouring.

Abstract: A well assembly device comprises an outer tubular sleeve with a first end and second end. An inner tubular member has a first end and a second end, and the inner tubular member is disposed within the outer tubular sleeve. The inner tubular member includes a screened portion at its second end. A tip is frictionally secured to the second end of the outer tubular sleeve, so that the outer tubular sleeve and the tip may selectively disengage.

Abstract: Dry sand is "rained" or pluviated into a receptor container used in the sy of soil mechanics. A supply vessel in the shape of an open-top rectangular box has four vertical side walls, a perforated bottom tray, and a slidable perforated tray in contact therewith, whereby sand flows by gravity from the supply vessel through perforations in the stationary and slidable trays and "rains" or pluviates into the receptor container when the slidable tray is in the "open" position, and sand is blocked from flowing from the supply vessel with the slidable tray in the "closed" position.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and monitoring scouring of a bed of sediment bath a body of water uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment adjacent to underwater sensors. The apparatus includes an electrical pulse generator which produces and intermittently transmits a series of electrical pulses along a permanent transmission line arranged adjacent to the area of concern, a timer to measure the travel time of the pulses within the transmission lines, a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal corresponding to the travel times of the pulses, a receiver for receiving the signal, and a signal analyzer which interprets the signal to determine a measurement of scouring. Knowledge of the position of the interfaces before and after a scouring event and the dielectric constants of the surrounding media allows the user to detect and monitor the level of erosion caused by scouring.