Planning Military Drinking Water Needs: Development of a User-Friendly Smart Device Application

Area of Science:

• Military Logistics
• Environmental Physiology
• Human Performance

Background:

• Potable water is critical for military operations but poses significant logistical challenges.
• Accurate water planning requires complex calculations of sweat loss based on activity, clothing, and environment.
• Existing methods for water need prediction are often inaccessible to field personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a user-friendly tool for estimating military drinking water requirements.
• To translate complex thermal biophysics equations into a practical application.
• To support effective water management in military training and operational settings.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Soldier Water Estimation Tool (SWET) as an Android application.
• Integrated updated sweat loss prediction equations into the SWET application.
• Included user-selectable inputs for activity level, clothing, and cloud cover, plus manual entry for temperature and humidity.
• Incorporated a Mission Planner tool for unit-level water needs based on duration and personnel count.

Main Results:

• SWET provides estimated drinking water requirements using 5 simple inputs.
• The Mission Planner tool estimates total unit water needs.
• Preliminary user testing indicated positive feedback on ease of use and military relevance.

Conclusions:

• SWET simplifies water planning, reducing logistical burdens associated with water carriage.
• The application aims to mitigate risks of dehydration and hyponatremia, enhancing Warfighter health and performance.
• SWET offers a practical solution for optimizing water resource management in military contexts.