Environmental Engineering class

Light Pollution
D. Chemisana and Chr. Lamnatou

18/11/2013

SI units for radiometry and photometry

Radiometry is the science that allows us to answer how much light is there? Photometry is the same, but scaled to the average human visual response

Sources: Georgia State University, Atlanta, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu; Electro-Optical Systems (EE 482 F09) Joseph A. Shaw Montana State University

Units - Definitions
Nit is the unit of luminance and it is defined as a candela per square meter The unit could be written as cd/m2 or lm/m2sr It is most often used to characterize the "brightness" of flat emitting or reflecting surfaces Laptop computer screens: 100 to 250 nits The standard symbol for the luminance in nits is Lv

Source: Georgia State University, Atlanta, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Units - Definitions
M: Radiant exitance = the radiant flux per unit area leaving the surface of a source of radiation radiant exitance is the flux density W/m2 E: Irradiance = the flux per unit area received by a surface Ev: Illuminance = a measure of the photometric flux per unit area (or visible flux density) lux (lm/m2) (or footcandles (lm/ft2)) L: Radiance = the irradiance per unit solid angle Lv: Luminance = the illuminance per unit solid angle lm/m2 sr luminance = the density of visible radiation in a given direction

W/m2

W/m2 sr

Source: Illumination fundamentals, Lighting Research Center, 2000

Units - Definitions
I: Radiant intensity = the amount of power radiated per unit solid angle W/sr Iv: Luminous intensity = the amount of visible power per unit solid angle, measured in candelas (cd, or lm/sr) In the Figure, a 1-cd light source is emitting 1 lm/sr in all directions (isotropically)

The inverse square law Ev = Iv / d2

d = the distance from the light source

Luminous intensity
Source: Illumination fundamentals, Lighting Research Center, 2000

Candela
Candela is the foundation unit for the measurement of visible light Candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction of a source Candela is abbreviated cd and its standard symbol is Iv Candela is then used to define the lumen and other quantities used in the measurement of visible light 1 cd = lm/sr

Source: Georgia State University, Atlanta, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

illuminance
The power per unit area on an illuminated surface illuminance This is the quantity of practical importance in judging whether an area is lighted well enough for reading or other activities The illuminance is measured in lux

illuminance Ev = luminous intensity Iv / radius2

Source: Georgia State University, Atlanta, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Lux
The lux is defined as a lumen per square meter and it is a unit of illuminance it measures the amount of visible light striking a surface the standard symbol for it is Ev

Most light meters measure this quantity and it is the quantity most commonly used to state requirements for architectural lighting
Source: Georgia State University, Atlanta, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Light pollution: introduction

Light pollution is a by-product of outdoor lighting. Light pollution can be reduced by lighting only what is actually needed, when it is needed and to the appropriate level The three elements of light pollution: sky glow, light trespass, glare We light our outdoor nighttime environment to meet certain societal goals, such as increasing safety and security Figure depicts the light emitted from the earth at night
The brighter areas in the figure are regions of higher population density and thus, more outdoor lighting

Source: Image and data processing by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center. Data collected by the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency under the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, 1994-1995

Source: Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/lightpollution

Light pollution: sky glow

Sky glow is a brightening of the sky caused by both natural and human-made factors. The key factor of sky glow that contributes to light pollution is outdoor lighting Sky glow increases the brightness of the dark areas of the sky, which reduces the contrast of stars or other celestial objects against the dark sky background

Source: Reprinted with permission from the Institution of Lighting Engineers and the Society of Light and Lighting

Source: Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/lightpollution

Light pollution: light trespass

Light trespass occurs when spill light is cast where it is not wanted it is difficult to define when, where and how much light is unwanted. An example of light trespass is when spill light from a streetlight or floodlight enters a window and illuminates an indoor area

Source: David Fernndez-Barba, Dep. d'Astronomia i Meteorologia, Universitat de Barcelona, SPAIN

Source: Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/lightpollution

Light pollution: glare

Glare is a visual sensation caused by excessive and uncontrolled brightness. It can be disabling or simply uncomfortable. Older people are usually more sensitive to glare due to the aging characteristics of the eye

Example of lighting that can result in disability and discomfort glare

Source: Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/lightpollution

Light pollution
How the issue of light pollution can be addressed: -educational efforts -research -work to design lighting equipment that produces less light pollution -legislation

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12464-1 Type of interior, task or activity illuminance (lx) Agriculture Buildings for livestock 50 Bakeries Preparation and baking 300 Cement, concrete, bricks General machine work 300 Ceramics, tiles, glass, glassware Precision work e.g. hand painting 1000 Food industry washing of products 300 Colour inspection 1000 Hairdressers Hairdressing 500 Metal working and processing Tool making; cutting equipment Manufacture 750 Restaurants and hotels Self-service restaurant 200 Libraries Bookshelves 200 Reading area 500 Educational buildings Classrooms, tutorial rooms 300 Laboratories and pharmacies General lighting 500 Airports Air traffic control tower 500
Source: http://www.vtsns.edu.rs/noviSajt/vtsns_admin/profInfo/profInfo_256.pdf