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Chalkias, C., Petrakis, M., Psiloglou, B., & Lianou, M. (2006). Modelling of light pollution in suburban areas using remotely sensed imagery and GIS. J Environ Manage, 79(1), 57–63.
Abstract: This paper describes a methodology for modelling light pollution using geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technology. The proposed approach attempts to address the issue of environmental assessment in sensitive suburban areas. The modern way of life in developing countries is conductive to environmental degradation in urban and suburban areas. One specific parameter for this degradation is light pollution due to intense artificial night lighting. This paper aims to assess this parameter for the Athens metropolitan area, using modern analytical and data capturing technologies. For this purpose, night-time satellite images and analogue maps have been used in order to create the spatial database of the GIS for the study area. Using GIS advanced analytical functionality, visibility analysis was implemented. The outputs for this analysis are a series of maps reflecting direct and indirect light pollution around the city of Athens. Direct light pollution corresponds to optical contact with artificial night light sources, while indirect light pollution corresponds to optical contact with the sky glow above the city. Additionally, the assessment of light pollution in different periods allows for dynamic evaluation of the phenomenon. The case study demonstrates high levels of light pollution in Athens suburban areas and its increase over the last decade.
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Elsahragty, M., & Kim, J. - L. (2015). Assessment and Strategies to Reduce Light Pollution Using Geographic Information Systems. Procedia Engineering, 118, 479–488.
Abstract: Light pollution is a negative lighting condition because it prevents views of the night sky from the general population and astronomers. As a solution to light pollution, proper lighting system design is vital. The location, mounting height, and aim of exterior luminaries need to be taken into consideration for efficient use of lighting energy. In line with the effort, this paper presents the assessment results on light pollution at the port area, which is one of the brightest spots on Earth. In doing so, a GIS model is created to determine the level of light pollution at the study areas. The lighting power densities of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 are applied in order to find a way to reduce the level of light pollution. The effect of light pollution generated from the Long Beach Port area is examined by comparing against the sky glow generated from the Port of Long Beach area and other areas throughout the coast of Southern California, as well as comparing how deep the sky glow penetrates the ocean. The results are validated by comparing against the lighting specification used in the study areas. The lighting strategies proposed include the decreased height of light poles and increased spacing between light poles. This study will serve as a platform in which future researchers may continue and expand on the designs of heights and spaces of lighting poles in order to make severe light pollution areas better sustainable places.
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Narendra, A., Reid, S. F., & Raderschall, C. A. (2013). Navigational efficiency of nocturnal Myrmecia ants suffers at low light levels. PLoS One, 8(3), e58801.
Abstract: Insects face the challenge of navigating to specific goals in both bright sun-lit and dim-lit environments. Both diurnal and nocturnal insects use quite similar navigation strategies. This is despite the signal-to-noise ratio of the navigational cues being poor at low light conditions. To better understand the evolution of nocturnal life, we investigated the navigational efficiency of a nocturnal ant, Myrmecia pyriformis, at different light levels. Workers of M. pyriformis leave the nest individually in a narrow light-window in the evening twilight to forage on nest-specific Eucalyptus trees. The majority of foragers return to the nest in the morning twilight, while few attempt to return to the nest throughout the night. We found that as light levels dropped, ants paused for longer, walked more slowly, the success in finding the nest reduced and their paths became less straight. We found that in both bright and dark conditions ants relied predominantly on visual landmark information for navigation and that landmark guidance became less reliable at low light conditions. It is perhaps due to the poor navigational efficiency at low light levels that the majority of foragers restrict navigational tasks to the twilight periods, where sufficient navigational information is still available.
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