Urban Nightscape Research Articles

Optimization algorithms for light pollution management based on TOPSIS-non-linear regularization model

Rapid urbanization and economic development have inevitably led to light pollution. However, currently the world has not yet formed a unified technical standard for light pollution, and light pollution cannot be effectively controlled when the environmental protection department is unable to operate. To effectively solve this problem, this paper establishes a combined weight ideal point method evaluation model based on TOPSIS evaluation method to obtain comprehensive index weights to evaluate the light pollution risk levels of four different land types in urban, suburban, rural and nature reserve areas in Beijing, China, and uses one-way ANOVA to test the differences among the four regions. Based on the Random Forest algorithm to determine the three variables with the top three feature importance weights, and based on the nonlinear optimization algorithm, using the SLSQP method, the optimal parameter combinations with the smallest cost are obtained after iteration, so as to put forward three feasible intervention strategies such as adjusting the design of the nightscape lighting, reducing the time of nonessential lighting, and rationally planning the layout of the city’s lighting, etc., to solve the light pollution problem, which effectively promote the urban nightscape lighting’s it effectively promotes the healthy and sustainable development of urban nightscape lighting.

La ‘arquitectura luminosa’ en España. Una aproximación hacia la primera modernidad arquitectónica española (1925-1936)

La presente investigación aborda la génesis y evolución de la ‘arquitectura luminosa’ en España, fenómeno desplegado principalmente desde Alemania y que involucra a cuestiones innovadoras relacionadas con la luminotecnia, la fotografía moderna y las demandas comerciales de la sociedad moderna entre 1925 y 1936. Se investiga su impacto en el panorama urbano nocturno, sus nuevas formas de divulgación y cómo afectan a la colaboración profesional entre arquitectos, ingenieros, promotores, fotógrafos y editores. Se plantea verificar su desarrollo en España considerando el conocimiento de los últimos avances luminotécnicos alemanes por los ingenieros españoles, el contacto directo de los arquitectos españoles con las obras pioneras foráneas, y su divulgación a través de libros y revistas especializadas. Todo ello visualizado mediante una selección de obras y ublicaciones que contribuyeron a introducir la modernidad en España, tomando a la luz artificial y a la representación fotográfica nocturna como signo inequívoco de vanguardia.

Enhancing City Sustainability through Smart Technologies: A Framework for Automatic Pre-Emptive Action to Promote Safety and Security Using Lighting and ICT-Based Surveillance

The scope of the present paper is to promote social, cultural and environmental sustainability in cities by establishing a conceptual framework and the relationship amongst safety in urban public space (UPS), lighting and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based surveillance. This framework uses available technologies and tools, as these can be found in urban equipment such as lighting posts, to enhance security and safety in UPS, ensuring protection against attempted criminal activity. Through detailed literary research, publications on security and safety concerning crime and lighting can be divided into two periods, the first one pre-1994, and the second one from 2004–2008. Since then, a significant reduction in the number of publications dealing with lighting and crime is observed, while at the same time, the urban nightscape has been reshaped with the immersion of light-emitting diode (LED) technologies. Especially in the last decade, where most municipalities in the EU28 (European Union of all the member states from the accession of Croatia in 2013 to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom in 2020) are refurbishing their road lighting with LED technology and the consideration of smart networks and surveillance is under development, the use of lighting to deter possible attempted felonies in UPS is not addressed. To capitalize on the potential of lighting as a deterrent, this paper proposes a framework that uses existing technology, namely, dimmable LED light sources, presence sensors, security cameras, as well as emerging techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled image recognition algorithms and big data analytics and presents a possible system that could be developed as a stand-alone product to alert possible dangerous situations, deter criminal activity and promote the perception of safety thus linking lighting and ICT-based surveillance towards safety and security in UPS.

Estimating the relative contribution of streetlights, vehicles, and residential lighting to the urban night sky brightness

Under stable atmospheric conditions the brightness of the urban sky varies throughout the night following the time course of the anthropogenic emissions of light. Different types of artificial light sources (e.g. streetlights, residential, and vehicle lights) have specific time signatures, and this feature makes it possible to estimate the amount of brightness contributed by each of them. Our approach is based on transforming the time representation of the zenithal night sky brightness into a modal expansion in terms of the time signatures of the different sources of light. The modal coefficients, and hence the absolute and relative contributions of each type of source, can be estimated by means of a linear least squares fit. A practical method for determining the time signatures of different contributing sources is also described, based on wide-field time-lapse photometry of the urban nightscape. Our preliminary results suggest that, besides the dominant streetlight contribution, artificial light leaking out of the windows of residential buildings may account for a significant share of the time-varying part of the zenithal night sky brightness at the measurement locations, whilst the contribution of the vehicle lights seems to be significantly smaller.

The dark side of the nightscape: the growth of izakaya chains and the changing landscapes of evening eateries in Japanese cities

Bars and drinking spaces constitute an essential aspect of night-time entertainment districts. Japanese bars, generally known as izakaya, served a variety of cuisines and drinks, and they have been a central part of urban nightscapes. After the bursting of the bubble economy and the decade-long recession since the 1990s, however, the cultures of izakaya have changed dramatically. Drawing from the works of geographers, this paper critically examines recent changes in drinking spaces—particularly izakaya—and discusses how their changes are impacting the transformation of the night-time entertainment districts in Japan. This paper addresses several problems that are emerging in the transformation of the izakaya industry. Specifically, it problematizes the increasing numbers of corporate izakaya chains that have been established in recent years. They tend to serve food and drinks at a much cheaper price than their competitors, such as family-run izakaya. This is possible by making use of cheap laborers and a scale economy. For this reason, many traditionally family-run izakaya are struggling, and they are gradually disappearing from today’s urban nightscape in entertainment districts. Detailed examples of several entertainment districts in Tokyo metropolitan area and izakaya chains’ impacts in homogenizing the nightscape will be discussed at length.

Ground-based hyperspectral analysis of the urban nightscape

Airborne hyperspectral cameras provide the basic information to estimate the energy wasted skywards by outdoor lighting systems, as well as to locate and identify their sources. However, a complete characterization of the urban light pollution levels also requires evaluating these effects from the city dwellers standpoint, e.g. the energy waste associated to the excessive illuminance on walls and pavements, light trespass, or the luminance distributions causing potential glare, to mention but a few. On the other hand, the spectral irradiance at the entrance of the human eye is the primary input to evaluate the possible health effects associated with the exposure to artificial light at night, according to the more recent models available in the literature. In this work we demonstrate the possibility of using a hyperspectral imager (routinely used in airborne campaigns) to measure the ground-level spectral radiance of the urban nightscape and to retrieve several magnitudes of interest for light pollution studies. We also present the preliminary results from a field campaign carried out in the downtown of Barcelona.

Illuminights

As part of the urban nightscape, illumination of urban environments across Europe has gained significance recently. Altering the aesthetic appearance of material surfaces, urban illuminations transform our sensory every night experiences of space; experiences that, within geography, have not been dealt with in depth. This article undertakes an ethnographic study of the sensory everynight experiences of the changed aesthetics of illuminated spaces in Copenhagen, outlining three arguments. First, illumination functions as a signifier, transforming the experience of space and staging certain performative practices. Second, the illumination of select objects harmonizes connections between subjects and objects, releasing a potential for social contestation over spatial meaning. Third, illumination creates an illusory second reality, promoting alternative opportunities for engaging with the urban fabric. The article concludes that the lived sensory experiences of urban illuminations must be acknowledged in planning and need to be examined further within geographies of nighttime spaces.

"Vintage Nightlife": Gentrifying Lisbon downtown

Over last two decades, culture has played a very important role in large-scale urban transformations. In that sense, nightlife promotion has become one of the most important strategies for urban regeneration in post-industrial cities. This paper explores the newly emerged vintage-style nightlife in the former harbour quarter of Cais do Sodre (Lisbon downtown). To do this, I focus on a recently renewed hostel building called Pensao Amor – formerly frequented by sailors and prostitutes, and today considered the coolest nightlife venue in the Portuguese Capital. After presenting an updated state of the art exploration of gentrification and nightlife, I argue in the second part of my paper that Pensao Amor is currently playing a key role in the gentrification of the urban nightscape in the Cais do Sodre neighbourhood, where its traditional nightlife is today being supplanted by a vintage-style nightlife. Furthermore, I argue that the consumption of this recently promoted vintage nightlife as a new form of social distinction can be also seen as the (re)production strategy of a socially and morally sanitized nightlife which marginalizes everyone who is seen as inappropriate, or in other words, socially perilous to the city branding of Lisbon.

Gatekeeping Night Spaces: the role of booking agents in creating ‘local’ live music venues and scenes

A complex relationship exists between music scenes and the infrastructure in which they are located. This article focuses on the rise and fall of the Oxford Tavern, a live music venue in the Australian city of Wollongong. Pivotal in this venue was the role that booking agents played in developing what they perceived as an inclusive, self-sufficient and vibrant music scene—by generating and then consistently implementing a strict philosophy on what music and which bands performed there. Bookings were not based on reputation, and potentially better known or more lucrative bands were regularly denied access in favour of ‘local’ bands socially connected to the music scene. These bands were authenticated as ‘local’ because of social and geographical proximity—not because of any innate musicological distinctiveness connected to Wollongong. This social geographical emphasis on ‘local’ and ‘original’ music transcended musical genre and subcultural style. Although in one sense ‘exclusionary’, gatekeeping also fostered bonds of community and belonging, creating a perceived haven for diverse local cultures within a monopolised urban nightscape. Such gatekeeping practices—explored here through interviews with booking agents and music scene participants—were pivotal to the longevity of the music venue and scene. Only when booking agents with a strong ‘local’ ethos were removed from the venue did it struggle to survive, and ultimately collapse.

Urban lighting: Monochromatic and dynamic lighting

The night impression of a city, including both the feeling of security and attractiveness, is greatly influenced by lighting. Since the urban night image is created by a variety of illuminated urban elements (streets, buildings, bridges, parks, etc), coordination is necessary in order to achieve a harmonious urban nightscape. A lighting masterplan is a strategic document through which such coordination can be achieved. Even though lighting technology offers endless possibilities for creative illumination, the achievement of attractive light effects by applying monochromatic or dynamic lighting is not an easy task. An inadequate application of monochromatic lighting or aggressive dynamic lighting conspicuously degrades the illuminated buildings and their immediate (and sometimes wider) surroundings.