By Sarah G. MacMillan , Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (NNS) -- Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC) showcased two emerging EXWC technologies created to enable warfighter lethality at this year’s Department of Defense Lab Day, April 25, 2019.
DOD Lab Days showcases research and development performed at the Department’s Defense Laboratory Enterprise (DLE), which includes laboratories, warfare centers and engineering centers. EXWC highlighted their most groundbreaking next generation capabilities, specifically the Navy Fuels Infrastructure Rapid Repair Solutions (NFIRRS) technology and the Specialized Infrastructure Data Enterprise Reporting System (SPIDERS).
NFIRRS, a technology envisioned to support mission-sustainment and persistent operation amongst battle damaged fuel facilities is simply described as a system or “toolbox” of pieces and parts that would be available to quickly repair the damaged infrastructure of a fuel system. While creating NFIRRS, EXWC worked jointly with other services to develop expedient fuels infrastructure repair technologies for the Pacific regions. Additionally, NIFRRS offers added redundancy to the maritime military mission by allowing the continuation of operations.
"It's a pleasure to represent NAVFAC EXWC and the NFFIRS technology at DOD Lab Day 2019," said Galen Marks, EXWC professional engineer. "Today's warfighter requires rapid and agile solutions in hostile locations. The professional engineers and scientists of EXWC work diligently to transfer technology to our Sailors and Marines. We are co-enablers of the lethality that equips them to win battles decisively."
SPIDERS is a unique database and map-based visualization tool with broad application to naval infrastructure management and mission planning. The technology is simple, scalable, easily accessible, and supports a wide range of naval applications, from real-estate planning, to facility management, to exercise and mission planning. Accessible through a web browser across DOD unclassified computer systems, SPIDERS delivers a 3-dimensional virtual map experience, in which multiple users can simultaneously share a session, view geo-located 3D models of infrastructure and terrain, access infrastructure data, and insert and manipulate 3D models of vessels and other equipment. This shared 3-dimensional view facilitates the distribution and exchange of site-specific infrastructure information, and helps planners determine the feasibility and impact of decisions such as where to place and maneuver naval assets.
“It’s an exciting time for the Navy’s newest Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory. EXWC showcases rapid and agile technologies that are immediately deployable to warfighters,” said Mr. Kail Macias, EXWC Technical Director. “The SPIDERS and NFFIRS capabilities are only a sampling of the many innovative solutions our talented engineers and scientists bring to the fight. It can't be overemphasized, our professionals working within EXWC are the operations and logistics enablers for expeditionary forces serving in contingency locations around the world.”