Masterthesis Lisbeth Dam Kor
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LET THERE BE NIGHT - a study on how to increase darkness levels in urban green areas Aalborg University Copenhagen Semester: LiD 10 Title: Let there be night – a study on how to increase Aalborg University Copenhagen darkness levels in urban green Frederikskaj 12, areas. DK-2450 Copenhagen SV Semester Coordinator: Project Period: Fall 2020 Secretary: Abstract: SemesterAalborg Theme: University Master thesis CopenhagenSeveral studies confirm that artificial lighting at night disrupts the natural light/dark cycle and interferes with nature and humans' natural Semester: LiD 10 patterns with detrimental consequences for our physiology, behaviour and health. Still, artificial Supervisor(s):Title: Let there be night – a study on how tolight increase levels are increasAalborging globally, University Copenhagenand light darkness levels inpollution urban greenis not considered Frederikskaj a "rightful" 12, form of Michael Mullins areas. pollution. This thesis investigatesDK-2450 how Copenhagenoutdoor lighting SV can support the coexistenceSemester of human Coordinator: and nature in ProjectProject group Period: no.: Fall 2020 urban green areas by minimizingSecretary: the impact on N/A biological patterns of nature and human, enabling human eye adaption, and enhancing the Abstract: Members:Semester Theme: Master thesis feelingSeveral ofstudies reassurance. confirm that artificial lighting at Lisbeth Dam Kørner Throughnight disrupts a comprehensive the natural light/dark literature cycle review and and exploratoryinterferes with test nature on cont andrast humans' perception natural and colourpatterns reflectance, with detrimental a design consequences framework for is our proposedphysiology, focusing behaviour on threeand hea lightinglth. Still, artificial Supervisor(s): characteristic:light levels are 1increas quantitying andglobally, intensity, and light 2 directionpollution isand not distribution considered anda "rightful" 3 spectrum form andof Michael Mullins colour,pollution. that has the potential of being very either harmfulThis thesis if usedinvestigates without how consideration outdoor lighting or useful can if support the coexistence of human and nature in Project group no.: used wisely. urban green areas by minimizing the impact on N/A biological patterns of nature and human, enabling human eye adaption, and enhancing the Members: feeling of reassurance. Lisbeth Dam Kørner Through a comprehensive literature review and exploratory test on contrast perception and colour reflectance, a design framework is proposed focusing on three lighting characteristic: 1 quantity and intensity, 2 direction and distribution and 3 spectrum and colour, that has the potential of being very either harmful if used without consideration or useful if used wisely. Copyright © 2006. This report and/or appended material may not be partly or completely published or copied without prior written approval from the authors. Neither may the contents be used for commercial purposes without this written approval. Copyright © 2006. This report and/or appended material may not be partly or completely published or copied without prior written approval from the authors. Neither may the contents be used for commercial purposes without this written approval. TABLE OF CONTENT ww 2.4.1 The impact of artificial light on insects 23 Section one: Foundation 2.4.1.1 Insect attraction towards artificial light 23 1 Background 2.4.1.2 Moon phases 24 2.4.1.3 Insects' attraction to different light spectra 25 2.4.2 The impact of artificial light on bats 25 1.1 INTRODUCTION 8 2.4.2.1 Bats attraction towards artificial light 25 1.2 Historical view on light and darkness 9 2.4.2.2 Bat’s attraction to different light spectra 26 1.2.1 The natural darkness 9 2.4.3 The impact of artificial light on birds 27 1.2.2 From dark sky to bright street light 9 2.4.3.1 Birds attraction towards artificial light 27 1.3 Light pollution 11 2.4.3.2 Bird’s attraction to different light spectra 28 1.3.1 Definition 12 2.5 The impact of artificial light on plants 28 1.3.2 The search for darkness 14 2.5.1 Plants’ response towards artificial light 29 1.3.3 Nuances in the Natural Darkness 14 2.6 The impact of artificial light on humans 30 1.4 Vision 15 2.6.1 Humans response towards artificial light 30 1.5 Research question 15 2.6.2 Humans respond to different light spectra 31 1.5.1 Success Criteria 15 2.7 Summary 32 1.6 Methodology 16 1.7 Limitation 17 1.8 Summary 17 3 Human visual system 3.1 Introduction 33 Section two: Theorectical Framework 3.2 Atomony of the human eye 33 3.3 Field of view 34 2 Effects of light pollution 3.4 Human vision 34 3.4.1 Mesopic vision 35 2.1 Introduction 20 3.4.2 Central and peripheral vision 36 2.2 Circadian Rhythm 20 3.4.3 The human eye adaptation 36 2.3. Photoperiodims 22 3.4.4 Light Spectrum and S/P ratio 37 2.4 Artificial lights impact on Animals 22 3.5 Summary 4 4 Perception of light and darkness 5.6 Testing colours in darkness 61 38 5.7 Testing of reflectance in DIALux-evo 63 4.1 Introduction 40 5.8 Summary 4.2 The effect of contrast 41 4.3 The effect of glare 42 4.4 The effect of direction and distribution 43 6 Lighting design principles 4.5 The effect of spatial brightness 44 63 4.6 The effect of light and material 44 6.1 Introduction 68 4.7 The effect of spectrum and colour 44 6.2 Quantity and intensity - Less is more 69 4.8 The effect of darkness 45 6.3 Direction and distribution - Only light what is needed 70 4.9 Artificial light's effect on crime 48 6.4 The light spectrum and colour - Narrow light spectrum 71 4.10 Artificial light’s effect on the feeling of reassurance 49 6.5 Other factors 72 4.11 The physical factor’s effect on crime and feeling of reassurance 49 6.5.1 Finetuning the artificial light 72 4.12 The effect of clutter and maintenance 51 6.5.2 Maintenance 72 4.8 Summary 51 Section three: design Section Four: Evaluation 7 Reflections 5 Experiments 7.2 Discussion 76 5.1 Introduction 54 7.3 Conclusion 77 5.2 Problem case 54 7.3 Future work 77 5.3 Testing contrast under a full moon 54 5.3.1 Measurements 57 5.4 Testing contrast under an overcast sky 57 References 79 5.4.1 Measurements 58 5.5 Testing contrast in the light laboratory 58 5 SECTION ONE: FOUNDATION This section covers the background of this thesis going through the history of light, the search for darkness and defining light pollution. These issues are the foundation for the vision and research question . “We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of the shadows, the light and darkness, that one thing against another creates.” Junichiro Tanizaki Figure 1.1: Global map illustrating lightpollution from 2012 Ref: Quast, 2017 1 BACKGROUND severe physiology and behaviour consequences for humans and ani- mals by shifting the light and dark cycle (Rich & Longcore, 2006; Fleury 1.1 INTRODUCTION & Kalsbeek, 2020; Navara & Nelson, 2007). Still, light pollution is not considered a legitimate form of pollution, and artificial lighting levels Light in the context of darkness is often quite beautiful. The quote increase at night, making darkness an endangered natural resource from Tanizaki describes how the counterbalance between light and (Rich & Longcore, 2006). Therefore the delicate counterplay between darkness is essential for creating beauty. Figure 1.1 is a picture of light light and darkness is more relevant than ever and should be essential directed up into the sky - also called light pollution - in 2012. The in developing future outdoor lighting schemes. image depicting light pollution is actually brilliant and aesthetically beautiful for the human eye, with various light and darkness nuanc- This thesis is divided into four sections. Section one is a run-through es. Maybe this is one of the reasons that we ignore the detrimental the history of light, light pollution and the methodology used. Section effect of light pollution, and the emission of light is still increasing two is a comprehensive literature review on (1) how animals, plants globally with 6 percent every year, through the growth of urban envi- and humans are affected by artificial light at night, (2) the human -vi ronments (Hölker et al., 2010; Rich & Longcore, 2006)? With the tech- sion and adaption to darkness and (3) how light and darkness affect nological developments in the lighting industry, the introduction of the human perception. Section three explores other alternatives for LED improved the efficiency and reduced the cost of lighting. This im- artificial lighting at night by investigating the interplay between light, provement anticipated saving energy, but rather than saving energy is darkness, colour and materials. This knowledge is used as a basis for causes increasing illuminance levels (Hölker et al., 2010) A study from forming lighting principles to design outdoor lighting, with the least 2016, estimated that 80% of Americans and 60% of Europeans could damaging effect on humans and the ecosystem. Section four is an not see the Milky Way, because they live in cities with a high level of evaluation and discussion of the findings that are presented in this light pollution (Falchi et al., 2016.) thesis. Light pollution is a problem with many layers. There is the aesthetic While no one would dispute the importance of natural light, this thesis and poetic issue with the loss of the view to the dark sky and thereby is concerned about the importance of natural darkness for nature and the direct link to the universe. Another layer of light pollution is that human.