Elite Hosted EMP Workshop, March 2011

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Elite Sponsored EMP Workshop March 2011.

Elite Electronic Engineering, in association with iNARTE hosted a technical workshop on High-altitude ElectroMagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI). 

Over the past 10 years there has been a growing awareness that the threat of high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) from a nuclear detonation could be devastating to the commercial infrastructures of the United States, with special concern directed to the U.S. power grid. 

It has also been established that a severe geomagnetic storm from a solar event could create significant damage to our power grid at a level that could take many years to repair.  Finally a new threat of Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI) produced by electromagnetic weapons by criminals and terrorists raises a third specific electromagnetic threat.

To build awareness and expertise on this subject Elite, in association with iNARTE hosted a technical workshop on HEMP and IEMI. This workshop presented an in depth look into these threats and describe their potential impacts on the U.S. power grid. 

Attendees reviewed the work of the IEC, the IEEE, the ITU-T and Cigré.  The IEEE EMC Society is working on a recommended practice for protecting public accessible computers from IEMI.  The ITU-T has recently completed work on two recommendations to protect telecommunications centers from HEMP and IEMI.   Finally Cigré (International Council on Large Electric Systems) has recently begun work to write a report on how to protect high-voltage substation electronics from the threat of IEMI.

As an added interest, Elite provied a live EMP test performed at Elite’s Downers Grove laboratory.  Elite’s EMP transient pulse generator has a 1.2m separation parallel plate transmission line capable of developing a 50,000V/m, 2.8 nanosecond rise time pulse.   

Expert Instructor

The EMP workshop featured as lead instructor, Dr. William A. Radasky, Ph.D., IEEE Fellow, P.E.

Chairman of IEC SC 77C, and President of Metatech Corporation.

For information on Dr. William Radasky, visit http://www.metatechcorp.com/

For information on iNARTE, visit http://www.narte.org/

For information on Don Heirman Consultants, visit http://www.donheirman.com/

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