IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i10p8185-d1149561.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Methods to Reduce Flicker and Light Pollution of Low-Mounting-Height Luminaires in Urban Road Lighting

Author

Listed:
  • Shenfei Chen

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Bing Zhang

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Xianxian Zeng

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Yi Lin

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Haitian Zhao

    (School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

Abstract

Current low-mounting-height luminaires (LMHLs) have low effective luminous flux, high surface brightness, and many stray lights, resulting in high energy consumption and light interference, and the flicker effect may threaten driver safety. Currently, the flicker effect in LMHL lighting has been relatively poorly studied. However, in prior research, a Flicker Index ( FI ) quantification model was developed. In this study, we have modified the FI model to incorporate visual persistence, visual masking, and driving speed of the driver, and proposed a dynamic energy ratio model for quantifying flicker effects. The notion of effective luminous flux in road lighting was introduced, revealing that the reasons for high energy consumption, severe light pollution, and strong flicker effects in regular LMHLs were low effective luminous flux and high surface brightness. We recommend a low-mounting-height lighting technique that functions in both forward and reverse directions, which can significantly enhance the effective luminous flux of lighting fixtures, reducing stray light. The lighting fixtures created were tested on a road. The findings suggest that the energy consumption of both forward and reverse lighting fixtures is only 40% of the international standard requirements, resulting in 81% more energy savings than in existing LMHLs. The surface brightness of forward and reverse lighting fixtures is only 1.18 cd/m 2 , which is equivalent to 0.001% of the surface brightness of existing lighting fixtures. This indicates that 99.89% less invalid light is projected into the environment, indirectly reducing light pollution. Additionally, the flicker index of these fixtures is only 2% of that of existing lighting fixtures, reducing the impact of the flicker effect on drivers. This study provides insights into quantifying and mitigating the flicker effect in LMHLs, as well as presenting novel approaches and strategies for enhancing the efficiency and reducing light pollution of streetlamps.

Suggested Citation

  • Shenfei Chen & Bing Zhang & Xianxian Zeng & Yi Lin & Haitian Zhao, 2023. "Methods to Reduce Flicker and Light Pollution of Low-Mounting-Height Luminaires in Urban Road Lighting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8185-:d:1149561
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/8185/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/8185/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maja Grubisic & Abraham Haim & Pramod Bhusal & Davide M. Dominoni & Katharina M. A. Gabriel & Andreas Jechow & Franziska Kupprat & Amit Lerner & Paul Marchant & William Riley & Katarina Stebelova & Ro, 2019. "Light Pollution, Circadian Photoreception, and Melatonin in Vertebrates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-51, November.
    2. Li Qin & Li-Li Dong & Wen-Hai Xu & Li-Dong Zhang & Arturo S. Leon, 2018. "Influence of Vehicle Speed on the Characteristics of Driver’s Eye Movement at a Highway Tunnel Entrance during Day and Night Conditions: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Catherine Pérez Vega & Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska & Sibylle Schroer & Andreas Jechow & Franz Hölker, 2022. "A Systematic Review for Establishing Relevant Environmental Parameters for Urban Lighting: Translating Research into Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-46, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, 2022. "Healthier and Environmentally Responsible Sustainable Cities and Communities. A New Design Framework and Planning Approach for Urban Illumination," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, November.
    2. David Baeza Moyano & Mónica San Juan Fernández & Roberto Alonso González Lezcano, 2020. "Towards a Sustainable Indoor Lighting Design: Effects of Artificial Light on the Emotional State of Adolescents in the Classroom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska & Katarzyna Szlachetko & Katarzyna Bobkowska, 2021. "An Impact Analysis of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on Bats. A Case Study of the Historic Monument and Natura 2000 Wisłoujście Fortress in Gdansk, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-48, October.
    4. Yongqing Guo & Xiaoyuan Wang & Qing Xu & Feifei Liu & Yaqi Liu & Yuanyuan Xia, 2019. "Change-Point Analysis of Eye Movement Characteristics for Female Drivers in Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Alejandro Martínez-Martín & Adrián Bocho-Roas & Diego Carmona-Fernández & Manuel Calderón-Godoy & Miguel Ángel Jaramillo-Morán & Juan Félix González, 2023. "Influence of Illumination Parameters on Night Sky Observation in Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Annika K. Jägerbrand, 2020. "Synergies and Trade-Offs Between Sustainable Development and Energy Performance of Exterior Lighting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-27, May.
    7. Anna Beniermann & Martin Glos & Heike Schumacher & Ingo Fietze & Stephan Völker & Annette Upmeier zu Belzen, 2023. "‘Sleep Blindness’ in Science Education: How Sleep Health Literacy Can Serve as a Link between Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    8. Zhongxiang Feng & Miaomiao Yang & Yingjie Du & Jin Xu & Congjun Huang & Xu Jiang, 2021. "Effects of the Spatial Structure Conditions of Urban Underpass Tunnels’ Longitudinal Section on Drivers’ Physiological and Behavioral Comfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Radoslava Kanianska & Jana Škvareninová & Stanislav Kaniansky, 2020. "Landscape Potential and Light Pollution as Key Factors for Astrotourism Development: A Case Study of a Slovak Upland Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, October.
    10. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska & Katarzyna Bobkowska, 2022. "Rethinking Sustainable Cities at Night: Paradigm Shifts in Urban Design and City Lighting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-34, May.
    11. Sibylle Schroer & Benedikt John Huggins & Clementine Azam & Franz Hölker, 2020. "Working with Inadequate Tools: Legislative Shortcomings in Protection against Ecological Effects of Artificial Light at Night," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-38, March.
    12. Karolina M. Zielińska-Dabkowska & Kyra Xavia & Katarzyna Bobkowska, 2020. "Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-32, June.
    13. Maria Vogiatzaki & Stelios Zerefos & Marzia Hoque Tania, 2020. "Enhancing City Sustainability through Smart Technologies: A Framework for Automatic Pre-Emptive Action to Promote Safety and Security Using Lighting and ICT-Based Surveillance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    14. Annika K. Jägerbrand, 2021. "Development of an Indicator System for Local Governments to Plan and Evaluate Sustainable Outdoor Lighting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, February.
    15. Annika K. Jägerbrand & Constantinos A. Bouroussis, 2021. "Ecological Impact of Artificial Light at Night: Effective Strategies and Measures to Deal with Protected Species and Habitats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    16. Yongzheng Yang & Zhigang Du & Fangtong Jiao & Fuquan Pan, 2021. "Analysis of EEG Characteristics of Drivers and Driving Safety in Undersea Tunnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    17. Catherine Pérez Vega & Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska & Franz Hölker, 2021. "Urban Lighting Research Transdisciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8185-:d:1149561. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.