MATILDA: A Military Laser Range Safety Tool Based on Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Techniques
Abstract
Recently, the use of Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) techniques to perform laser safety and hazard analysis for high output lasers in outdoor environments has become an increasingly accepted alternative to the traditional deterministic safety approach based on Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits. Over the past ten years, the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the United States (US) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have collaborated to develop a jointly-owned, PRA-based, laser Range safety tool, the Military Advanced Technology Integrated Laser hazarD Assessment (MATILDA) system. The UK MoD has been developing PRA-based laser hazard analysis models for nearly four decades, and using them to assess laser irradiation risks to unprotected persons from laser test and training operations on UK military Ranges. The United States Air Force wishes to develop PRA-based hazard analysis models for outdoor high energy laser applications, and began the collaboration to leverage the PRA modelling expertise of the UK. Initial MATILDA code development was based on the PRA "partition" model developed to perform Range safety clearances for the UK Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) system. MATILDA is the first military software tool to contain a complete end-to-end laser PRA model, crafted for Range applications, and with generalized terrain modelling. In the future it will provide a starting point for development of more advanced laser PRA models and tools.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA617212
Entities
People
- Brian K. Flemming
- Daniel F. Huantes
- Matthew D. Flower
- Paul K. Kennedy
Organizations
- TASC, Inc