Target detection distances under different road lighting intensities

European Transport Research Review

Original Paper

Iisakki Kosonen¹  Tapio Luttinen¹  Sanaz Bozorg Chenani¹  Matti Kurkela²  Matti T. Vaaja² 

[1] Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, Otakaari 4, 02150, Espoo, Finland;Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, Otakaari 4, 02150, Espoo, Finland;Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research (CoE-LaSR), School of Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland;

关键词: Detection distance;    Road lighting;    Car headlights;    Combined effect;    Dimming;    Traffic safety;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s12544-017-0234-z

 received in 2016-09-22, accepted in 2017-03-10,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

PurposeRoad lighting illuminates road surface and surrounding areas of objects on a road, while car headlights illuminate vertical objects on a road. The goal of the study was to investigate the interaction between road lighting and car headlights at target detection distance.MethodTarget detection distances under different road lighting intensities and car headlights were studied with and without glare from an oncoming car. Dimmable high-pressure sodium lamps with three lighting levels 49, 71 and 100% (3557, 5179 and 7252 lm) were used. Test drivers had to detect a small uniform standard target standing vertically on the straight road.ResultsIn the absence of glare (low beam car headlights), road lighting intensity levels of 100 and 49% provided comparable detection distances, while at 71% of road lighting intensity visibility was the lowest. The target was seen in negative or positive contrast in 100% of road lighting. In 71% of road lighting, the target was detected in positive contrast. While, in 49% of road lighting target was seen in negative contrast. There was a significant difference in detection distances under different road lighting intensities when there was no glare from the oncoming car. The significance main effect was between 49 and 71% of road lighting intensities. In addition, no significant differences in the effect of road lighting intensities could be found under glare from the oncoming car. In the presence of glare from the oncoming car, targets were always in negative contrast. Both road lighting and car headlights are associated with detection distances.ConclusionThe results of these experiments can give new insight to the development of intelligent road lighting considering the combined effect of road lighting and car headlights. The results provide useful insight to dim the lighting in order to save energy without impairing the detection of objects.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2017

【 图 表 】

12864_2017_3655_Article_IEq25.gif

12864_2015_2163_Article_IEq3.gif

12864_2017_3655_Article_IEq23.gif

12864_2016_3210_Article_IEq1.gif

12864_2015_2198_Article_IEq30.gif

12864_2016_2821_Article_IEq6.gif

12864_2015_2055_Article_IEq55.gif

12864_2017_4363_Article_IEq4.gif