When the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) needed to assess the overall cost-effectiveness of a cold-formed steel mobile factory for Navy applications in a real-world environment, they turned to Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Department of Information Sciences to perform a comprehensive financial and business case assessment that put the system to the test.
The advantages of using cold-formed steel in humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) or expeditionary missions over pure lumber or concrete seemed clear, and could be the solution that brings the Naval Construction Forces into the 21st century.
“We are interested in showing the full potential of (cold-formed steel) and using it in a real-world environment, so that we are better prepared for the next disaster,” said Steckler, whose role as the Director of NPS’ Hastily Formed Networks Research Group has him involved in HADR research all over the world.