Volpe Center Highlights - January/February 2002
Human and Natural Environment
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Human and Natural Environment
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Papers and Presentations
Providing Environmental Support to DoD Facilities Construction (USAF/DON)
Volpe's role in the development of this DoD facility includes helping to ensure that the electromagnetic frequency waves produced by the HAARP project do not interfere with radio communication and navigation. |
The Volpe Center is supporting construction and environmental compliance monitoring for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. The goal of this congressionally mandated program is to provide a state-of-the-art research facility to study the properties and behavior of the ionosphere, a conductive upper layer of the Earth's atmosphere. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding and using the ionosphere to enhance communications and surveillance systems for both civilian and defense purposes. The HAARP research will be directly applicable to the communication and navigation necessary for the successful operation of all modes of transport.
HAARP's Ionospheric Research Instrument Demonstration Prototype, which consists of 13 acres of antennas, has already been used successfully in scientific research. |
The proposed research requires the construction of an ionospheric research facility in Gakona, Alaska, which will be the most powerful and versatile high-frequency radio wave generator in the world. The main part of the facility, a large radio wave transmitter called the Ionospheric Research Instrument, will consist of 180 crossed dipole antenna elements arranged in a grid pattern of 12 rows and 15 columns covering 35 acres. Construction has reached the demonstration prototype level, consisting of 13 acres of antennas. The facility is expected to be complete in 2005.
Since 1999, the Environmental Engineering Division has provided environmental support that includes 404 wetland fill permitting, construction monitoring and compliance, and air emissions permitting, as well as addressing concerns related to hazardous materials and other environmental issues. Once construction is complete, additional environmental oversight support will be provided during operation of the facility.
Dr. Paul Valihura of the Environmental Engineering Division is the Environmental Compliance Officer for the project. On October 6 and 7, 2001, he participated in a meeting with Air Force and Navy personnel at Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, to define the tasks required for a contractor to take over the daily operation of the HAARP Site. Dr. Valihura is also Vice-Chairman of the Radio Frequency Interference Resolution Committee, which was established to monitor and fine-tune the electromagnetic frequency waves produced by the HAARP project to ensure that the project does not induce interference with radio communication and navigation during operation.
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