Ecoluminance: A New Approach to Visual Guidance for Roadways

ABSTRACT

A promising approach to integrating lighting and vegetation, termed ecoluminance, along roadways for improving visual guidance and reducing energy use, is proposed. The visibility of relevant objects along several simulated roadway applications (roundabouts, curved exit ramps, and urban boulevards) were compared when illuminated conventionally, and when designed with the ecoluminance approach. The ecoluminance approach had the largest estimated impact on drivers’ visibility when detecting pedestrians and other roadway hazards for roundabouts and for urban boulevards. The roundabout also had the greatest energy savings and as a result, had the greatest operating cost reduction.

Key Words:

• energy efficiency
• roadway lighting
• roundabouts
• vegetation
• visual performance

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research described in this article was sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), and was conducted under the supervision of Joseph Tario from NYSERDA and Humayun Kabir from NYSDOT. The important technical contributions of Leora Radetsky, Mark Rea, Nicholas Skinner, Jeremy Snyder and Xin Zhang from the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are also gratefully acknowledged.