Abstract
Abstract. The effects of light pollution problems in metropolitan areas are investigated in this study. Areas of Hong Kong are used as the source of three typical study cases. One case represents the regional scale, a second represents the district scale, and a third represents the street scale. Two light pollution parameters, Night Sky Brightness (NSB) and Street Light Level (SLL), are the focus of the analyses. Light pollution visualization approaches in relation to the different scales include various light pollution maps. They provide straightforward presentations of the light pollution situations in the study areas. The relationship between light pollution and several social-economic factors such as land use, household income, and types of outdoor lighting in the scale areas given, are examined. Results show that: (1) Land use may be one factor affecting light pollution in the regional scale; (2) A relatively strong correlation exists between light pollution and household income in the district scale; (3) The heaviest light pollution in the street scale is created by spotlights and also the different types of lighting from shops. The impact of the latter is in relation to the shop profile and size.
Highlights
The use of artificial electric lighting has been increasing rapidly since the invention of light bulbs approximately 150 years ago
Light pollution in relation to different spatial scales has not been systematically studied in the past
This study demonstrates the application of visualization techniques and analysis of light pollution in Hong Kong in different scale areas
Summary
The use of artificial electric lighting has been increasing rapidly since the invention of light bulbs approximately 150 years ago. Artificial lighting has become an indispensable element of modern civilized societies for safety, recreation, decorating, and many other purposes Due to such factors as inappropriate design in some lighting systems, the impact of artificial light can sometimes negatively affect the people and situations it was intended to benefit. Such negative effects, can impact human health, the environment and through wastage, inhibit worldwide sustainable development (Roach and Gordon, 1973; HCN, 2000; Salmon, 2003; Rich and Longcore, 2005; Chu and Chan, 2008; Pun and So, 2009; Chu et al, 2009; Zhang, 2011). Glare, light trespass, and light clutter (IDSA, 2010) These features can impact health but often can decrease night-time visibility. This study investigates the light pollution problem across different spatial scales including regional scale, district scale, and street scale in metropolitan areas, which has not been systematically studied before
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