GTA 05-08-018
DUST SUPPRESSION ALTERNATIVES
Headquarters, Department of the Army
1 August 2006
Purpose: This graphic training aid (GTA) will
assist Soldiers in managing dust for airfields,
helipads, base camps, marshaling areas, main
supply routes (MSRs), and lines of
communications (LOCs) and determining the
appropriate method of dust suppression. Dust
suppression factors include climate, area and
soil type, equipment and material availability
and methods of shipping. No one solution meets
every requirement. For more information, refer
to Field Manual (FM) 3-100.4 and Technical
Manual (TM) 5-830-3.
The proponent agency for this publication is the
United States Army Training and Doctrine
Command (TRADOC). Send comments and
recommendations on DA Form 2028
(Recommended Changes to Publications and
Blank Forms) to Commandant, United States
Army Engineer School, ATTN: ATSE-DT,
Individual Training Division, 320 MANSCEN
Loop, Suite 370, Fort Leonard Wood, MO
65473-8929.
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public
release; distribution is unlimited.
DISTRIBUTION: United States Army Training Support
Centers (TSCs).
Dust Effects: Dust can limit or delay the
mission, affect Soldiers’ health, reduce visibility
(increasing the risk of accidents), and damage
equipment. Dust suppression helps to reduce
these effects.
Dust Avoidance: Dust avoidance is a
preventive measure in dust control. Dust
avoidance techniques include—
• Leaving the hardpan (soil crust) intact
when constructing parking or storage
areas.
• Locating facilities in areas sheltered
from the wind by vegetation or
topography.
• Wearing personal protective equipment,
such as goggles and large kerchiefs to
cover the nose and mouth.
Dust Suppression: Dust suppression involves
either physical or chemical barriers. For
expedient helipads, matting materials or
chemical palliatives may be used.
Physical barriers include putting down matting
or gravel layers on the surface of the area of
concern. Matting materials are heavier and last
longer, but are labor intensive. Proven available
matting materials include MOBI-MAT, AM-2
Landing Mat (aluminum), and DURA-BASE
®
Composite Mat System.
Chemical barriers or palliatives require
equipment for application. Chemical palliatives
vary in ease of application, effectiveness, and
cost. They are usually applied topically or
admixed (integrated into the top layer of the soil,
approximately 3 to 5 inches, and then top-
coated). Chemical palliatives (sprays) are
available through the General Services
Administration (GSA) Advantage!
®
online-
ordering system.
Topical Applications: Topical application is the
most common method of dust suppression.
However, topical applications require
applicators to maintain the greatest level of
uniformity when dispersing the liquid. An
alternative method should be used if the area
does not allow for uniform spraying.
Topical spraying requires equipment with a tank
to hold the chemicals, a mechanical system to
mix the chemicals with water (if dilution is
necessary), and a spray apparatus, such as a
spray bar or hose and a pump. The U.S. Marine
Corps uses hydroseeders (see Figure 1) for
topical application, while some U.S. Army units
use water distribution vehicles.
Figure 1. Spraying a Topical Application
Admix Applications: Admix applications
incorporate the chemical dust palliatives deeper
into the soil than topical applications. They are
used on areas that have heavy repetitive
loading such as MSRs, LOCs, runways,
taxiways, or parking aprons.
Admix applications require a grader, a rotary
mixer, a steel-wheeled vibratory roller, and a
spray applicator. Admix depths for roads should
be at least 3 inches; admix depths for airfields
should be at least 4 inches.
Admix Procedures:
Step 1. Grade the soil, if necessary, using a
motor grader (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Grading the Soil
Step 2. Spray at a rate of one-half of the
palliative application rate (for example, if the
rate is 0.8 gallons per square yard [gsy], spray
0.4 gsy) on the
soil surface and blend into the top
3 inches of soil for roads and top 4 inches of soil
for airfields by using the rotary mixer (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Spraying an Admix Application
Step 3. Compact the soil using a steel-wheeled
vibratory roller (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Compacting the Soil
2 3 4
