Simulation and Analysis of Floodlighting Based on 3D Computer Graphics

Abstract

The paper presents the opportunities to apply computer graphics in an object floodlighting design process and in an analysis of object illumination. The course of object floodlighting design has been defined based on a virtual three-dimensional geometric model. The problems related to carrying out the analysis of lighting, calculating the average illuminance, luminance levels and determining the illuminated object surface area are also described. These parameters are directly tied with the calculations of the Floodlighting Utilisation Factor, and therefore, with the energy efficiency of the design as well as the aspects of light pollution of the natural environment. The paper shows how high an impact of the geometric model of the object has on the accuracy of photometric calculations. Very often the model contains the components that should not be taken into account in the photometric calculations. The research on what influence the purity of the geometric mesh of the illuminated object has on the obtained results is presented. It shows that the errors can be significant, but it is possible to optimise the 3D object model appropriately in order to receive the precise results. For the example object presented in this paper, removing the planes that do not constitute its external surface has caused a two-fold increase in the average illuminance and average luminance. This is dangerous because a designer who wants to achieve a specific average luminance level in their design without optimizing the model will obtain the luminance values that will actually be much higher.

Selected Issues on Material Properties of Objects in Computer Simulations of Floodlighting

“…Therefore, the only proper way to analyse illumination is to validate its technical luminance analysis, which is attainable either numerically or with false colour images technique [27]. Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages [13], although for farther observational directions, image-based assessment appears to be sufficient and relatively quick to perform. Figure 17 shows the luminance distribution calculated for the K2 observation direction within the second observation zone.…”

“…Development of a computer simulation for floodlighting, regardless of the applied tool, can be divided into several stages [13]. The most important stages regarding analytical issues are listed below, namely:…”

“…Simulations help to present the designers' illumination visions [12]. Usually, they are performed with rendered photorealistic pictures [13,14]. Controlled outdoor tests are carried out equally often [15,16].…”

Archives of Electrical Engineering

“…The classic approach of field trials may involve only illumination of fragments or may involve relatively simple illuminations involving a small amount of illumination equipment. Commercially available computer tools sufficiently represent the physical phenomena of the path of light rays and the interaction of light rays with obstacles [13,14]. They allow multivariate analyses of the selection of luminaires with different luminous flux distributions, their arrangement and targeting, and finally, for visualizations of the illumination and luminance distributions on facades [15].…”

A Smart Floodlighting Design System Based on Raster Images

“…It is estimated that making a three-dimensional geometric model of an object used as a basis for a lighting design constitutes about 70% of the overall designer's working time [6]. The final effect of the simulation work depends on the quality of the 3D model [7][8][9][10][11]. However, the geometric model is the beginning of the design process using this technique.…”