Light is one of our most valuable resources on this earth. It makes the world visible to us, is the major driver of the 24-hr sleep-wake cycle to which not only humans, but virtually all life on earth (fauna and flora) submits. In fact, there would be no life on earth without light. It is therefore hard to overestimate the impact light has on humans, biologically, psychologically, socially. And yet, we hardly ever think or speak about light.
LIGHTCAP 3 “Light in outdoor contexts” explores the principles of lighting and its effects on humans in various outdoor settings from the perspectives of pedestrians and drivers, covering topics such as alertness, wakefulness and attentiveness, but also feelings of safety and aesthetics. The course is one in a series of four, each with a different disciplinary basis and with complementary perspectives to the domain of light for humans. The basis of this course is predominantly in (environmental) psychology.
In this course you will:
(1) Be able to understand and explain concepts of arousal, anxiety and fear.
(2) Understand different perceived safety measurement methods and be able to explain their advantages/disadvantages.
(3) Be able to interpret the link between urban lighting and feelings of safety.
(4) Learn about road lighting standards (P-class) and understand the purposes and benefits of minor road lighting.
(5) Be able to understand the link between light and alertness, why this could matter for pedestrians, and learn about methods to assess alertness in lighting research.
(6) Be able to understand and explain the concept of cognitive workload and the relationship between cognitive workload and driving performance
(7) Learn how to measure cognitive performance in practical applications such as driving
(8) Be able to understand and explain the concepts of attention, alertness and mystery and understand how different attention levels can influence our perception and behaviour
(9) Be able to reflect on what might be the advantages/disadvantages of using lighting design for attention benefits.
(10) Learn how to measure the energy consumption of a road lighting installation
(11) Get familiar with currently available road lighting standards and be able to reflect on what might be a beneficial change in the big picture considering all aspects of a change in road lighting installation.
(12) Develop knowledge about the challenges of outdoor lighting design and to demonstrate an understanding of light pollution (definition and types).
(13) To understand the impact of light pollution on people’s safety and wildlife.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- It is hard to overestimate the impact light has on humans, biologically, psychologically, socially. And yet, we hardly ever think or speak about light. We created four online courses, which cover fundamentals of the eye and brain (1), basic concepts of light, cognition, attention and sleep (2), effects and implications in outdoor conditions (3) and effects and implications for indoor lighting (4). This third course, LIGHTCAP 3 “Light in outdoor contexts” explores the principles of lighting and its effects on humans in various outdoor settings from the perspectives of pedestrians and drivers, covering topics such as alertness, wakefulness and attentiveness, but also feelings of safety and aesthetics. The basis of this course is predominantly in (environmental) psychology.
- Chapter 1 - Urban lighting to feel safe: pedestrian safety and alertness
- In this first lecture, Richard will describe traditional methods of measuring feelings of safety in urban environment. We will also introduce novel approaches to the perceived safety assessment, such as 1) measuring arousal, both in its intensity as well as in its nature, 2) present the evolutionary approach to anxiety and its measurement. We will discuss possible issues around urban lighting and safety, such as individual needs, specific spaces or individual history.
- Chapter 2 - Road lighting, pedestrian safety and alertness
- In this lecture, Aysheh continues on the themes of pedestrian safety and alertness. Road lighting is of benefit to road users after dark. A well-designed road lighting must provide the amount of light that allows pedestrians to proceed safely. This lecture will introduce the lighting standards of minor roads, and the main purposes of road lighting. Explore the relation between light and Alertness, how it could be assessed, and highlight how it may be beneficial for pedestrians.
- Chapter 3 - Cognitive workload and driving
- In this lecture, Nima will describe the fundamentals of cognitive workload and its relation to the driver's performance. The driving task will be described in detail and different sources of driver's overload and underload will be discussed. different measurement techniques of cognitive workload will be presented. Finally, road lighting's potential to improve drivers' cognitive performance will be highlighted.
- Chapter 4 - Urban lighting design: alertness and aesthetics
- In lecture 4, Richard reflects on how urban lighting design can stimulate attention. We will explain the concepts of alertness and mystery and discuss attention and its role in perception. We’ll introduce environmental psychology approach and some of its concepts and theories, such as place attachment and attention restoration theory. Students will explore the link between environmental aesthetics and attention, as well as possible future relationships and uses.
- Chapter 5 - Road lighting & energy saving
- In this lecture, Nima will provide a brief summary of advancements in road lighting installations. It will aim to highlight the main changes requires to preserve the benefits of road lighting while minimizing energy consumption. These changes will be argued in four sections technology, pattern of use, standards and contracts, and the basis of design. Section 1 (technology) will cover currently available light sources, control gear, luminaires, and the electricity supply. Section 2 (pattern of use) argues the previous switching set-ups and potential changes. The advantages of real-time monitoring and control will also be discussed. Section 3 (standards and contracts) argues the basis of road lighting standards in the UK and across the globe, the reasons behind the selection of specific light set-ups and the future changes which need to be implemented will also be discussed. Section 4 (the basis of design) discusses the specific applications of road lighting design and how the design might be changed to best achieves the aims road lighting is designed for.
- Chapter 6 - Exploring the non-visual effects of light in architecture
- In this lecture, Aysheh reflects on the environmental impact of outdoor lighting. If the outdoor lighting is not carefully designed the unwanted effect can easily exceed the positive impacts. This lecture aims to address the possible adverse impact of outdoor lighting; mainly Light pollution, such as glare and skyglow, and describe its impact on people’s lives and wildlife.
Taught by
Yvonne de Kort
