Systems and methods for assesing vulnerability of non-line of sight targerts

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method of determining the vulnerability of an asset includes determining an elevation surface surrounding an asset. A target point and aim point are selected on the asset and ballistic trajectories are determined for a particular projectile. A plurality of trajectory height surfaces that are rotationally symmetric about the asset and having a cross-section corresponding to the projectile trajectory for the selected range. A corrected elevation surface is generated for each range based on the trajectory height surface for the particular range. An observer view surface is generated from the plurality of corrected elevation surfaces, and is combined with the target visibility surface to generate the target vulnerability surface.

1 . A computer-implemented method of determining the vulnerability of an asset, comprising:
 generating an elevation surface for a region surrounding an asset having elevations;   determining a target point and aim point of the asset;   determining ballistic trajectories for a plurality of distances from the asset to the target point;   generating a plurality of trajectory height surfaces rotationally symmetric about the asset and having a cross-section with a first end at the target point and second end at the radially outer edge of the surface at a distance corresponding to one of the plurality of distances from the asset;   generating a plurality corrected elevation surfaces by subtracting each of the trajectory height surfaces from a respective elevation surfaces; and,   generating an observer view surface from the plurality of corrected elevation surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a target visibility surface based on the elevation surface and the target point.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining a target vulnerability surface based on the target visibility surface and observer view surface.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining an aim visibility surface based on the elevation surface and aim point; and,   comparing a surface area of the aim visibility surface and a surface area of the target visibility surface.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a target point and aim point of the asset includes selecting the highest visible point on the asset as the aim point. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a target point and aim point of the asset includes selecting the aim point at a location above the target point. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating an observer view surface step includes selecting one of the plurality corrected elevation surfaces corresponding to one of the plurality of distances from the asset and determining whether locations at the one of the plurality of distances from the asset have an unobstructed line of sight to the target point over the selected one of the corrected elevation surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the generating an observer view surface step includes, for each corrected elevation surface, determining whether locations at one of the plurality of distances from the asset have an unobstructed line of sight to the target point over the selected one of the corrected elevation surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining ballistic trajectories step includes performing a curve fit calculation based on ballistic trajectory data to obtain a trajectory function, and calculating the trajectories based on the functions. 
     
     
         10 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a non-transient computer-readable medium including instructions thereon that upon execution by a processor:
 determine an elevation surface for a region surrounding an asset; 
 determine a target point and aim point of the asset; 
 determine ballistic trajectories for a plurality of distances from the asset to a target point on the asset; 
 generate a trajectory height surfaces for each of a plurality of ranges having a radial distance from the asset, the trajectory height surfaces being rotationally symmetric about the asset and having a cross-section with a first end at the target point and second end at a ballistic firing point at an outer edge of the trajectory height surface; 
 generate a corrected elevation surfaces for each of the ranges by subtracting each of the trajectory height surfaces for the particular range from a respective elevation surfaces; and, 
 generate an observer view surface from the plurality of corrected elevation surfaces.