In today’s world, the environmental impact of machinery and technology is very closely watched. Resources are finite and anything emitting harmful pollution is understandably scrutinized. More and more ANSPs face extreme restrictions on where they can place radars, due to the footprint that the machine takes up, but also because of the EM pollution that is created. Multilateration does not have this same problem, as each sensor can be placed on already existing structures, such as cell phone towers, building tops, etc. Multilateration sensors do not face the environmental challenges that plague any radar site because they are stationary and require little power.

SSR necessitates a dramatically larger environmental footprint with massive power and dedicated infrastructure vs. MLAT which is easily placed on existing structures.

Radar consumes over 200 times the power (12 kilowatts vs. 50 watts) and weighs over 100 times (2500 kg vs. 24 kg) as much as an MLAT ground station.