Lighting for Urban

More and more population shift from rural to urban areas, resulting urbanization. Lighting should be taken into account because it is critical for both social and economic progress. Lighting enables urban dwellers perform as normally at night as they are during the day. Great urban lighting creates safe and enjoyable public environment, as well as demonstrating attractive landscape. Dwellers and visitors are comfortable in such urban lighting. Then social cohesion and economic value of urban are reinforced. However, the rapid increased population also add pressure to the ecological system, making it more difficult to balance the relationship between urban lighting and environmental protection. Light pollution should be avoided as it is not only negative to surrounding environment but also the bio-diversity. Sky glow and spill light threaten the habitats of other creatures and disturb their routine. Therefore, lighting for urban should pay attention to both dwellers and environment. This post would like to take a look at lighting for urban, including explanation and fixtures for urban lighting, and considerations to achieve great urban lighting.  

What is urban lighting

In simple words, urban lighting is the urban illumination. It is the lighting for the pedestrians and environment in urban areas. Lighting plays an important role in urban development. Great urban lighting brights up the city at night and during dark period, bringing dynamic to the city. Lighting for urban involves various places, such as streets, roadways, pathways, parks, buildings, bridges, plazas, etc.

But generally urban lighting is not evenly distributed. Some areas are bright and busy while others may lack of sufficient lighting. Regardless of the brightness of specific area is, safety is the key issue. Therefore, lighting for urban can be divided into three layers. The first layer focus on the basic and critical lighting requirements of the safety of pedestrians and drivers. It can be defined as the street lighting as it mainly include the lighting for streets and roadways. The first lighting layer guides the ways for pedestrians and drivers, helping them stay safe at night. The second layer is about the lighting of infrastructures that allows pedestrians to take leisure and recreational time in outdoor space after dark. Most of them are integrated with the space but also highlight the appearance of the space. Lighting for the pathways, parks, square, and other spaces are classified as the second layer. The third layer of urban lighting is about the decorative lighting of surrounding architectures, serving aesthetic functions. Architectures lighting enhances the landmarks such as the large buildings and bridges, making the city more appealing to dwellers and visitors.

Fixtures for urban lighting 

Different types of fixtures are utilized for urban lighting to fulfill the requirements of each layer. Street lights are selected for the first layer of urban lighting commonly. These fixtures are installed on high poles with different lighting distribution types to fit the length and width of streets. Intelligent sensors and controls are equipped for street lights to save energy as they feature high output and energy consumption. Bollard lights and post top lights are the main types of fixture that integrated into the second layer of urban lighting. Bollard lights are mounted on the ground in pathways, parks, sidewalks, and other spaces, performing both illuminating and aesthetic functions. Lower height (about 0.5m to 1m) and asymmetric optic are used to reduce annoying light and glare. Post top lights are elegant and modern, illuminating as well as decorating the city. Full cut off post top lights prevent the spill light to sky and surrounding residential areas, protecting environment and dwellers from obtrusive light. The third layer of urban lighting often utilize RGBW facade lights. RGBW facade lights add chromatic dynamism to the city. They decorate and highlight the architectures, making city colorful and beautiful. Wide CCT range of wall pack brings different atmosphere, which allow them be used for various applications freely. With the help of intelligent control, lighting intensity and color of RGBW facade lights are adjustable, reducing energy consumption without any decrease of grandeur lighting effect.

Key considerations for achieving great urban lighting

Good urban lighting is functional, reaching lighting requirements of the first and second layers of urban lighting. But great urban lighting also conduce to construct chromatic, dynamic, and captivating public environments. Great urban lighting contribute to social interaction and economic progress as well. To achieve great urban lighting, neither safety nor aesthetic can be ignored. What we should keep in mind is that great urban lighting should focus on people, city, and environment, rather than the fixtures, controls and lighting standards that used to accomplish lighting design. They are important factors, but not the key considerations of great urban lighting. Fixtures, lighting standards, and controls are utilized to serve for realizing the needs of people, creating city reputation and character, as well as avoiding lighting pollution.

Great urban lighting should be people oriented, city-centered, and environmental friendly. Concentrate on the needs and health of people, environmental zoning standards were established. Each zone has specific light level recommendations. Following lighting level recommendations, safety and security of each zone are ensured while excessive light and glare are prevented. Focus on the city characters and reputation, landmarks, architectures, and buildings are decorated with colorful light, displaying the cultures, profound economic strength, and wonderful scenery. To constitute environmentally friendly urban lighting, lighting pollution is not allowed. Intensity, direction, and shielding of light sources are the main factors for resulting lighting pollution. Improper installation of lighting fixtures can cause serious light pollution as the light spill into the sky or trespass surrounding areas. Shielded lighting fixtures with proper installation can protect the environment from sky glow effectively.

In conclusion, lighting for urban can be classified in three layers. Each layer performs safety, recreation, and aesthetics function respectively. Great urban lighting not only achieve the lighting goals for the first two layers, but also the third layer, contributing to city image. Great urban lighting is safe, chromatic, and dynamic. People, city, and environment are the key considerations for achieving great urban lighting, but not the relevant fixtures, standard, and controls.