2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): The goal of the project is to utilize a combination of soil science, meteorological and traditional air quality sampling methods to accurately measure soil and surface characteristics, identify those characteristics significant to fugitive PM emissions due to military vehicle trafficking and wind erosion susceptibility after military training activities on DoD installations. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): The objective will be achieved through a comprehensive set of tasks that are designed to obtain specific data required to adequately characterize changes in soil and surface conditions due to off-road military vehicle activities and determine the sites’ changes in susceptibility to wind erosion. 3.Progress Report: This research project is to address Department of Defense concerns about air quality impacts both on and off their installations due to off-road military trafficking during training exercises. Tasks accomplished relate primarily to the analysis of data collected at Ft. Riley. Specifically, determining; a) aggregate size distribution (ASD) through rotary sieving the samples; b) dry aggregate stability of samples by crushing them using a soil aggregate crushing energy meter (SACEM); and c) the maximum density possible from the samples through Proctor density laboratory procedures. In addition, a new data acquisition system was developed for wind tunnel tests on soil tray obtained from Ft. Riley. The “no abrader” tests (simply blowing wind across the tray surfaces) were conducted in a laboratory wind tunnel. The “abrader” tests (sand is applied upstream in the wind tunnel, which impacts or abrades the tray surfaces) portion of the laboratory wind tunnel tests are remaining. These tests will determine the amount of loose erodible material, especially the smaller suspension size components, on the soil surface under various repeated trafficking conditions. The smaller suspension size material is directly attributable to air quality issues.