Analysis of Light Pollution Measurement, Visualization, and Interpretation Methods
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2026-1-116-127Keywords:
light pollution, night sky brightness, photometry, satellite-based monitoring, UAV-based light pollution monitoring, light pollution mapping, light pollution world atlasAbstract
The light pollution problem has reached a global scale, affecting human life, wildlife, plant life, and the planet as a whole. Its adverse effects, which grow from year to year, have a negative influence on the ecology, astronomy, and human psychophysical health. These circumstances highlight the need of applying an interdisciplinary approach to address the problem through increasing the public awareness and the revising, updating, and implementation of legislative acts on limiting light pollution. The article reviews contemporary light pollution measurement methods, including ground-based instrumental techniques (such as SQM and TESS photometers, and the use of wide-angle cameras) and remote sensing technologies (utilizing satellites like DMSP/OLS, VIIRS, Luojia 1-01, and UAVs). Special consideration is given to the promising method of measurements using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with platform-mounted optical radiation receivers and light pollution measurement devices, as well as instruments for terrain photography, subsequently used to generate orthophotomaps (georeferenced aerial imagery). The article considers various measurement units used to quantify and visualize light pollution, and also analyzes methods for mapping the spatial distribution of night sky brightness to track changes in the problem status with time. Correct and clear presentation of light pollution data enhances their accessibility for non-specialists, thereby raising public awareness. Consistent development of a unified, comprehensive, and substantiated system comprising preparation of measurement methodology, application of measurement methods and instruments, modeling of light pollution parameters, and accurate representation and visualization of measurement results for further discussion and practical implementation is a key step toward minimizing the existing adverse effects and enabling the control of light pollution propagation.
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Для цитирования: Новиков Е.А., Туркин А.Н. Анализ методов измерений, визуализации и интерпретации данных светового загрязнения // Вестник МЭИ. 2026. № 1. С. 116—127. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-1-116-127
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Конфликт интересов: авторы заявляют об отсутствии конфликта интересов
#
1. Ngarambe J., Lim H.S., Kim G. Light Pollution: is There an Environmental Kuznets Curve? Sustainable Cities and Soc. 2018;42(1):337—343.
2. Kyba C.C.M. e. a. Direct Measurement of the Contribution of Street Lighting to Satellite Observations of Nighttime Light Emissions from Urban Areas. Lighting Res. and Technol. 2021;53(3):189—211.
3. Riegel K.W. Light Pollution: Outdoor Lighting is a Growing Threat to Astronomy. Science. 1973;179(4080):1285—1291.
4. Hölker F. e. a. 11 Pressing Research Questions on How Light Pollution Affects Biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2021;9:767177.
5. Balafoutis T. e. a. Introducing a Methodology to Define the Negative Effects of Upward Façade Lighting in Historical Buildings. IOP Conf. Series Earth and Environmental Sci. 2023;1196(1):012301.
6. Tomasovits M., Balafoutis T., Doulos L.T., Zerefos S. Overview of a Method for Lighting the Facades of Historic Buildings by Considering Light Pollution as a Design Factor. IOP Conf. Series Earth and Environmental Sci. 2021;899(1):012037.
7. Kopanari M., Sigala H., Skandali C. Urban Lighting in Historic Settlements: from Quality Lighting to Cultural Reinforcement. Proc. Second Balkan Jr. Conf. Lighting. Plovdiv, 2019:1—6.
8. Skandali C., Whitlock E. Conceiving Monument Networks Through Lighting Design. Academia Letters. 2021.
9. Pauwels J. e. a. Accounting for Artificial Light Impact on Bat Activity for a Biodiversity-friendly Urban Planning. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2018;183:12—25.
10. Artificial Light in the Environment. London: The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 2009.
11. Benke K.K., Benke K.E. Uncertainty in Health Risks from Artificial Lighting due to Disruption of Circadian Rhythm and Melatonin Secretion: a Review. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. 2013;19(4):916—929.
12. Doulos L.T. e. a. A Decision Support System for Assessment of Street Lighting Tenders Based on Energy Performance Indicators and Environmental Criteria: Overview, Methodology and Case Study. Sustainable Cities and Soc. 2019;51:101759.
13. Ntarara E., Syngkiridi K., Androvitsaneas V.P., Doulos L.T. The Impact of Lighting Trespass on Nearby Buildings and Their Inhabitants which Derives from Municipal Stadiums. Early Results from a Post Occupancy Evaluation Survey. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth and Environmental Sci. 2022;1123:012034.
14. Skandali C., Papatzelakis N., Doulos L.T. The Role of Adaptive Lighting in Street Lighting Applications. Proc. XI Intern. Conf. Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting. Toulouse, 2022.
15. Anthopoulou E., Doulos L. The Effect of the Continuous Energy Efficient Upgrading of LED Street Lighting Technology: the Case Study of Egnatia Odos. Proc. Second Balkan Jr. Conf. Lighting. Plovdiv, 2019:45—46.
16. Skandali C. e. a. Conceptual Steps to Minimize Energy Consumption of Exterior Lighting in Greece: the Role of Façade and Road Lighting. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth and Environmental Sci. 2023;1196(1):012100.
17. Skandali C. e. a. Light Pollution: Definition, Consequences, Human Knowledge, and Disclosure Strategies. Proc. E3S Web of Conf. 2024;585:09008.
18. Light Pollution Reduction Measures in Europe [Elektron. Resurs] https://www.cysnews.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Light-pollution-reduction-measures-in-EU.pdf (Data Obrashcheniya 07.06.2025).
19. Szlachetko K. e. a. Memorandum w Sprawie Ustanowienia Prawnych Podstaw Zrównowazonej Polityki Oswietlenia Zewnetrznego. Gdansk: Instytut Metropolitarny, 2022.
20. Kunz M., Daab D. Cartographic Visualisation of Light Pollution Measurements. Urban Sci. 2024;8:2—16.
21. Kolomanski S. Zanieczyszczenie Swiatłem I Ciemnosc. Przejdzna Ciemn˛ Astron˛ Enocy. Srodowiskowe I Społeczne Skutki Zanieczyszczenia Swiatłem Warszawa: Wyd. Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 2010:29—46.
22. Sciezor T. The Impact of Clouds on the Brightness of the Night Sky. J. Quantum Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer. 2020;247:106962.
23. Hänel A. e. a. Measuring Night Sky Brightness: Methods and Challenges. J. Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer. 2017;205:278—290.
24. Karpinska D., Kunz M. Light Pollution in the Night Sky of Torun in the Summer Season. Bull. of Geography. Phys. Geography Series. 2019;17:91—100.
25. Kolláth Z. Measuring and Modelling Light Pollution at the Zselic Starry Sky Park. J. Phys. Conf. Series. 2010;218(1):012001.
26. Levin N. e. a. Remote Sensing of Night Lights: a Review and an Outlook for the Future. Remote Sensing of Environment. 2020;237(C):111443.
27. Mander S., Alam F., Lovreglio R., Ooi M. How to Measure Light Pollution — a Systematic Review of Methods and Applications. Sustainable Cities and Soc. 2023;92(4):104465.
28. Sciezor T. Metody Pomiaru Jasnosci Nocnego Nieba [Elektron. Resurs] http://lightpollution.pk.edu.pl/SOCN/metody.php (Data Obrashcheniya 10.12.2021).
29. Karpinska D., Kunz M. Device for Automatic Measurement of Light Pollution of the Night Sky. Sci. Rep. 2022;12(1):16476.
30. Karpinska D., Kunz M. Analysis of Light Pollution of the Night Sky in Torun (Poland). Civil and Environmental Eng. Rep. 2020;30(4):155—172.
31. Sky Quality Meter [Elektron. Resurs] https://www.unihedron.com/projects/darksky/ (Data Obrashcheniya 08.07.2025).
32. Tess Photometers [Elektron. Resurs] http://tess.stars4all.eu/ (Data Obrashcheniya 08.07.2025).
33. Garstang R.H. Model for Night-sky Illumination. Astronomical Soc. of the Pacific. 1986;98:364—375.
34. Garstang R.H. Night Sky Brightness at Observatories and Sites. Publ. Astronomical Soc. of the Pacific. 1989;101:306—329.
35. Garstang R.H. Dust and Light Pollution. Publ. Astronomical Soc. of the Pacific. 1991;103:1109—1116.
36. Luginbuhl C., Duriscoe D., Elvidge C. The Relation of Outdoor Lighting Characteristics to Sky Glow from Distant Cities. Lighting Research and Technol. 2013;46(1):35.
37. Measuring Night Sky Brightness [Elektron. Resurs] https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nightskies/measuring.htm (Data Obrashcheniya 19.07.2025).
38. Cinzano P., Falchi F., Elvidge C.D., Baugh K.E. The Artificial Night Sky Brightness Mapped from DMSP Satellite Operational Linescan System Measurements. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Soc. 2000;318:641—657.
39. Elvidge C.D., Baugh K.E., Zhizhin M., Hsu F.C. Why VIIRS Data are Superior to DMSP for Mapping Nighttime Lights. Proc. Asia-Pacific Advanced Network. 2013;35:62—69.
40. Zhang C., Pei Y., Li J., Qin Q., Yue J. Application of Luojia 1-01 Nighttime Images for Detecting the Light Changes for the 2019 Spring Festival in Western Cities. Remote Sensing. 2020;12(9):1416.
41. Jiang Wei e. a. Potentiality of Using Luojia 1-01 Nighttime Light Imagery to Investigate Artificial Light Pollution. Sensors. 2018;18(9):2900.
42. Bobkowska K., Burdziakowski P., Tysiąc P., Pulas M. An Innovative New Approach to Light Pollution Measurement by Drone. Drones. 2024;8:504.
43. Cinzano P., Falchi P.F., Elvidge C.D. The First World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Soc. 2001;328:689—707.
44. Falchi F. e. a. The New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness. Sci. Advances. 2016;2(6):e1600377.
45. Dargel A., Konshina P. Development of an Algorithm for Constructing a Model of Light Pollution at a Location Using High-resolution Visible Satellite Images. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sci. 2024;XLVIII-2/W5-2024:27—32.
46. Boos G.V., Grigoryev A.A., Rybina V.A. Research into Monochromatic Colour Vision Thresholds and Determination of the Trichromatic Colour-matching Coefficients. Light & Eng. 2022;30(2):89—101.
47. Grigoryev A.A., Rybina V.A. Colour Thresholds Definition Based on the Statistical Approach. Light & Eng. 2022;30(4):14—17
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For citation: Novikov E.A., Turkin A.N. Analysis of Light Pollution Measurement, Visualization, and Interpretation Methods. Bulletin of MPEI. 2026;1:116—127. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-1-116-127
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Conflict of interests: the authors declare no conflict of interest
