Start the "Quantity-Distance Engine"
Abstract
Explosives safety standards contain directive and commentary language. Both are founded upon experience derived from science and mishap history. Approval authorities expect full compliance with each directive requirement. Automation of such standards enhances the correct and complete application of the standard which in turn enhances the probability of safety, reduces approval review requirements, and generally improves productivity. However, development of automated explosives safety applications consumes both approval authority and software engineering resources resulting in substantial apparent and hidden costs. Experience has demonstrated that life-cycle maintenance of such applications, especially tasks associated with keeping current with approval authority revisions to the standards requires more resources than the initial development. Unresolved maintenance issues and the associated resource programming can and have made otherwise successful standards applications quickly obsolete. The tangible benefits associated with these applications indicate this type of conclusion is vastly inconsistent. This paper discusses a methodology used to create an automated explosives safety standards application. The paper assumes the approval authority maintains the standard and drafts revisions to it using a word processing application such as Microsoft Word. The ideal methodology is envisioned to produce the automated version of the standard directly from the word processor document. Additionally the methodology ensures completeness, consistency and conciseness are properties of the automated process. An interim methodology is presented using Chapter 9 of DOD Ammunition And Explosives Safety Standards (DoD 6055.9-STD). A computer program unit encapsulating all Chapter 9 site planning requirements produced using the interim methodology is discussed. This program unit may be used as a "quantity-distance engine" for explosives safety site planning applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA501675
Entities
People
- Frank R. Johnson Jr.
- Phillip C. Wager
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center