On the Applicability of the Space Syntax Methodology for the Determination of Street Lighting Classes

Francesco Leccese, Davide Lista, Giacomo Salvadori, Marco Beccali and Marina Bonomolo
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Francesco Leccese: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering (DESTeC), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Davide Lista: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering (DESTeC), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Giacomo Salvadori: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering (DESTeC), University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Marco Beccali: Department of Architecture (DARCH), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Marina Bonomolo: Department of Architecture (DARCH), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Street lighting plays a crucial role in a city’s night landscape and in urban traffic management, influencing users’ comfort and safety. To contain costs of public street lighting systems and to avoid energy waste, illuminance levels on road surfaces must be adequate to fit actual traffic volumes, as prescribed by regulations. This is true not only for motorized roads but also for sidewalks, paths, and pedestrian areas. Regulations in force establish a relationship between road traffic volumes and minimum illuminance levels through the lighting classes selection procedure. Lighting classes selection is based on various para meters among which traffic volume is the most difficult to evaluate because traffic volumes are generally estimated or measured by a traffic observation campaign. In this paper, an alternative method for classes association which is based on a space syntax approach, is described. The method was applied to the case study town of Pontedera (Italy) for the analysis of the pedestrian and motorized traffic and it shows a good correlation between measured and estimated traffic volumes, demonstrating how the methodology, with a precise and quick estimation of traffic volumes, can help lead to a suitable design of the lighting infrastructure, aiming to reduce energy waste and to avoid oversized lighting systems.

Keywords: lighting classes determination; space syntax analysis; lighting sustainability; public street lighting; road traffic volume; enlightened night landscape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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