PhD Position in Electrical power engineering and mechatronics, Early stage researcher

Tallinn University of Technology, School of Engineering, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics offers a 4-year PhD position in the field of electrical power engineering and mechatronics.

Proposed doctoral thesis topic: "Research and development of measurement methodology for outdoor digital screens’ effects assessment".

Supervisors: Professor Argo Rosin and Toivo Varjas

Abstract

In light of fast technological changes and growing usage of LED and other outdoor digital screens (ODS) to spread information in form of commercials or announcements, the light pollution and comfort of people are more and more important to consumers of information and regulatory bodies. At the same time, in order to assure people about the safety and comfort of those technologies, the traceable and repeatable measurement method for ODS needs to be advised. Considering state of art studies and experimental approaches used for assessment of effects ODS to road safety, the novel lighting parameters assessment and measurement methodology should be developed.

Description

The main goal of the project is to develop outdoor digital screens (ODS) measurement methodology for lighting parameters which will consider technological, psychological and road safety aspects to improve traffic safety.

The project addresses the following research questions:

• What are regulations and restrictions for ODS installations described in standards/guidelines by different countries and municipalities to reduce light pollution and to ensure traffic safety?
• Which areas are most dangerous in urban traffic and what psychologically affects the attention of road users most?
• What are important lighting parameters and measurement methods to assess the impact of ODS on road traffic safety, and how these parameters affect the attention of road users?
• How to measure luminance of ODS considering environment and ODS parameters affecting the luminance measurement methodology?
• How to design ODS measurement methodology for lighting parameters which will consider technological, psychological and road safety aspects to improve traffic safety

The sub-goal of this PhD project is to present the needed parameters to determine the traceable luminance value and to model the illuminance conditions of urban areas. Specifically, the project should examine the relation of information carrier luminance to illuminance of urban areas.

Responsibilities and (foreseen) tasks

• Investigation and analysis of international regulations, standards and guidelines for ODSls in urban areas.
• Investigation and analysis of psychological and road safety aspects, that may be affected by ODS.
• Investigation and analysis of lighting parameters (e.g. luminance and illuminance) and measurement methods to assess the impact of ODSs on road traffic safety, and how these parameters affect the attention of road users.
• Selection of most important parameters and development of novel method for measurement of lighting parameters of ODSs. Develop model for illuminance dependence of parameters of ODS
• Investigate measurement uncertainties affecting light parameter measurements and illuminance model.
• Validation of developed method in real conditions.
• Formulation the regulative recommendations for municipalities

Data collection for investigations and analyses should be based on literature study, questionnaires, tests and measurements. Also, scientific results should be published at least on two ETIS category 3.1 conferences and at least on one ETIS category 1.1 journal paper (at least quartile Q2).