Methods for Calculating Urban Areas of Coverage for Antiballistic Missile Defense

摘要

The report presents and compares two methods for determining urban areas of coverage of an antiballistic missile defense. The first is based on actual population data distributions used in an algorithm for determining minimum convex areas of coverage--that is, areas with no holes or dents in their boundaries. The second uses approximated areas of coverage based on a circular normal population distribution. The minimum convex area algorithm produces less biased results, but it is more expensive and time-consuming. The approximated footprint may provide the basis for acceptable estimates of the more elaborate algorithm for large cities. (Author)