Semihardened Contingency Communication Shelters

The purpose of this analysis was to 1 investigate concepts that can be used in constructing semihardened shelters for Defense Communications Systems DCS prepositioned equipment or operations functions, 2 provide planners with parametric relationships that will simplify selection of the least expensive facility for any given location, threat, and function, and 3 present one case study applying the concepts found to be least costly to an AUTODIN Switch Facility. The development process and case study comprise five sections in this report. The first describes the basic requirements and initial conceptual designs for the Transportable Unit Storage Shelter, the Reconstitutional Package Storage Shelter, and the Operational Shelter. While developing this section, design alternatives were considered, evaluated, and selected for use in the conceptual design and cost estimate. Rectangular cross section structures of cast-in-place concrete were selected as baseline design. The second section describes baseline buildings using a preengineered metal structure as the unhardened example and a standard ammunition igloo for the semihardened example. The third section addresses several construction alternatives, each designed to reduce the onsite construction time or the skilled labor demands. Two alternatives specifically discussed for the operational shelter would have limited usefulness for storing truck-mounted equipment. The fourth section presents general explanations of the design method and construction cost estimates together with the major underlying assumptions.