We use a comprehensive model to investigate the interaction of ultraviolet nanosecond laser pulses with a titanium material. We calculate plasma ignition thresholds and study the effect of the laser-plasma interaction and the importance of the electronic non-equilibrium in the laser-induced plume and its expansion in the background gas. Our calculations of plasma ignition thresholds on titanium targets are validated and compared with experimental and theoretical results. A comparison with experimental data indicates that our results agree well with those reported in the literature. Results for titanium and copper are also compared under the same conditions. The inclusion of electronic non-equilibrium in our work indicates that this important process must be included in laser ablation and plasma plume formation models.