Research Log #2 (Scholarly Article) - Solutionary Project 2023

Date: February 14, 2023

Name: Kaira Kwong
Essential Question: How can safety be enhanced from a light source that does not use any electricity?

Three Points to Prove:

#1: How can human movement help with conservation of energy?

#2: Why are non-renewable energy sources, like coal, oil, and gas, valuable resources for humans?

#3: Why is artificial light necessary for pedestrian safety?

Point that this Source Proves: #3: Why is artificial light necessary for pedestrian safety?

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove)

“It is imperative to reduce light pollution and conserve dark areas to protect biodiversity and human health against the
detrimental effects of excessive light. However, it is also necessary to provide light in public spaces at night to ensure
visibility, readability, orientation and a sense of security—for pedestrians from all walks of life, and/or those with
certain restricted abilities” (Radicchi and Henckel 2).

Radicchi and Henckel concluded that “inclusive design and planning of public lighting should become a much more
important topic; this would help visual diverse pedestrians, but also sighted ones, to deal with, e.g., the increasing
overload of sensual impressions” (5).

“[…] given the growing number of elderly and visually impaired people, the need for research and planning lighting in
complex and diverse outdoor environments and for more heterogeneous requirements is becoming a pivotal issue for
societies that claim inclusiveness and sustainability” (Radicchi and Henckel 11).

A interviewee of Radicchi and Henckel’s study expressed that “the concept of adaptive lighting includes a minimum
lighting level everywhere, with individual light luminaires that increase their light level when a pedestrian is detected”
(9).

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This article was a study that specifically touched on improving outdoor artificial lighting for those who are
visually impaired. But it still covers the topic of why artificial light is important for safety, for those who are visually
impaired and for those who are not. Radicchi and Henckel have pulled from other studies that artificial light is vital for
prolonging activities into the dark, as it provides visibility, safety, security, and well-being. It is noted that artificial
lights are often seen as a negative thing. Many studies have cited light pollution, the disturbance of Earth’s natural
cycle, to be the issue with illuminating the dark sky with power. Nevertheless, in a humanistic way, the needs of
humans come first in terms of safety and inclusion.
Artificial light comes from lights, and nowadays, with LED technology, the possibility of pedestrian lighting is
growing. New urban outdoor planning must account for “inclusive light planning” to suit everyone’s needs. Choosing
where and how public spaces are lit up is complex because there are too many options and opinions and factors to
think about. Most of the time, road lighting for drivers is more common than sidewalk lighting for pedestrians. It is
important to understand that different people need different lights. It is impossible to accommodate everyone with a
universal lighting plan but some of the factors to take into consideration are “glare, contrast, uniformity, illuminance,
light colour and flicker”.
“Energy-reduction measures” are something that Radicchi and Henckel reflected on. LEDs are the best option
in lighting but also minimizing the use of the light when possible. They suggested lighting on demand that is used only
when necessary. This ties in with my whole project that lighting for pedestrians is important, so much so that the
earth’s precious energy needs to be wasted on it, for safety and inclusivity. My project is to provides these without
using up our non-renewable resources and protecting our earth while protecting the pedestrians.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Radicchi, Antonella, and Dietrich Henckel. “Planning Artificial Light at Night for Pedestrian Visual Diversity in
Public Spaces.” Sustainability (2071-1050), vol. 15, no. 2, Jan. 2023, p. 1488. EBSCOhost, https://doi-
org.ezproxy.librarieshawaii.org/10.3390/su15021488.

This is a reputable and reliable article because it was written by two people affiliated universities, one at the
Department for the Built Environment, and the other at the Institute of Urban and Regional Planning. It was published
by MDPI, which only house peer-reviewed, scientific papers. They used forty-four other papers and conducted their
own study to come to their conclusion.