Naga Pottetti1, Paul Ayers1, Heidi Howard2, Alan Anderson2, and Dave Faucette3. (1) Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 E. J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, (2) USA-CERL, U.S. Army Eng Res & Dev Ctr. CERL, PO Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826, (3) Pohakuloa Training Area, Hilo, HI 96720
Stryker transformation involves the shift of 25th Infantry, 2nd Brigade from Light Infantry to Stryker Brigade. Dust emission from military training exercises at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) is one of the concerns identified by U.S. Army in maintaining environmental compliance during the transformation. The study reports the use of GPS in vehicle tracking to estimate the dust generation. In November 2006, a pre-transformation study was conducted using Garmin 18 GPS receivers to track five ton cargo trucks called Medium Tactical Vehicle's, (MTV-M1083) and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle's, (HMMWV- M998), belonging to the 1-21 Battalion of the 2nd Brigade. Vehicle movement data was collected including the distances traveled, vehicle velocities and range areas for a period of 8 days. The quantity of dust generated was calculated by incorporating the GPS data into ArcGIS using an empirical dust emission equation developed by EPA. A second study has also been conducted on 8-wheeled Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) called Strykers (M1126) of 1-21 Battalion, 2nd Brigade, as a post-transformation analysis in April 2007. The results obtained from the two analyses are compared and a dust emission pattern is elucidated as a function of vehicle characteristics and geographically distributed. Estimated total dust generated from the two exercises is presented. The study could aid in evaluating and predicting to the extent military training maneuvers are involved in causing environmental disturbance. The research would also facilitate in gauging the impact of dust on plant and human health near a military installation.