TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of dimmed road lighting and car headlights on visibility in varying road surface conditions
AU - Bozorg Chenani, Sanaz
AU - Tetri, Eino
AU - Kosonen, Iisakki
AU - Luttinen, Tapio
PY - 2018/10/2
Y1 - 2018/10/2
N2 - This article evaluates the potential of dimming road lighting in order to save energy and lower costs while avoiding any adverse effects on the visibility of drivers. An experimental study under varying road surface conditions was conducted to examine the combined effect of car headlights and different road lighting intensities on the visibility level. The luminance levels of the road surface, contrast and visibility level of the objects were measured from a stationary car under three road surface conditions: a) dry, b) wet, and c) snowy conditions. The results support the feasibility of reducing road lighting intensity when car headlights are available. When within the range of car headlights, road lighting did not improve the visibility level. In the presence of car headlights, the average luminance providing a sufficient visibility level was found to be 0.19, 0.63 and 0.75 cd/m2 under dry, wet and snow conditions, respectively. This would allow an energy savings of 317kWh/year/luminaire, representing savings of 80% luminaire/year for LED luminaires.
AB - This article evaluates the potential of dimming road lighting in order to save energy and lower costs while avoiding any adverse effects on the visibility of drivers. An experimental study under varying road surface conditions was conducted to examine the combined effect of car headlights and different road lighting intensities on the visibility level. The luminance levels of the road surface, contrast and visibility level of the objects were measured from a stationary car under three road surface conditions: a) dry, b) wet, and c) snowy conditions. The results support the feasibility of reducing road lighting intensity when car headlights are available. When within the range of car headlights, road lighting did not improve the visibility level. In the presence of car headlights, the average luminance providing a sufficient visibility level was found to be 0.19, 0.63 and 0.75 cd/m2 under dry, wet and snow conditions, respectively. This would allow an energy savings of 317kWh/year/luminaire, representing savings of 80% luminaire/year for LED luminaires.
KW - Car headlights
KW - cost saving
KW - dimming
KW - energy saving
KW - road lightning
KW - road surface conditions
KW - visibility level
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054187202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15502724.2018.1452152
DO - 10.1080/15502724.2018.1452152
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 259
EP - 273
JO - LEUKOS
JF - LEUKOS
SN - 1550-2724
IS - 4
ER -