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News and Recent Publications:

Mehlika Inanici presented "Using High Dynamic Range Photography to Capture Visual and Non-Visual Stimuli in Built Environments" in OPTICA (formerly OSA) Lighting Applications Technical Group, Feb. 16, 2024.

Mehlika Inanici presented "Reflections on Daylight Glare Evaluations in Built Environments" in the Joint Biennial CNC-CIE, CIE-USNC & CORM Conference 2023 Educational Session on Glare Metrics, Models and Standards, Nov 7, 2023.

Lark Spectral Lighting v.3.0 is released. It can be downloaded from Food4Rhino . Github link, Youtube link (for tutorials). Latest blog.

Jung B, Cheng Z, Brennan M, Inanici M. "Multispectral Lighting Simulation Approaches for Predicting Opsin-driven Metrics and their Application in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," IBPSA 2023 Conference, Shanghai, China, September 4-6, 2023.

Mehlika Inanici presented “Perspectives of a Building Scientist and Educator on Gender Equity,” at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78), Science Summit, Gender Equality in Science Education, on September 13, 2023.

Chmielinski M, Yost M, Cohen M, Inanici M, Simpson C. “Non-Ionizing Radiation Modeling to Predict Ambient Irradiance in Work Areas at an Indoor Cannabis Farm,” Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxad048

Inanici M, Abboushi B, and Safranek S. “Evaluation of Sky Spectra and Sky Models in Daylighting Simulations,” Journal of Lighting Research and Technology, 55(6): 2023, 502-529. (First published online July 2, 2022.) More info: Sky spectra Models. https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535221103400

 

In-house Software:

larklogo

hdrscope


This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders.


SIM

LARK MULTI-SPECTRAL LIGHTING SIMULATION TOOL: CALCULATION OF CIRCADIAN LIGHT

 

A growing body of research has shown that human ocular system functions not only to facilitate vision but to reset the circadian clock to synchronize it with the 24 hour daily cycle and/or with the local time. Lighting professionals increasingly appreciate the influence of light on human health and wellbeing. A holistic approach to design necessitates consideration for both visual and non-visual aspects of lighting. There are established methods for analyzing the luminous environment for photopic responses, but there is a need for a workflow to study and analyze non-visual impact of light in built environments. This research addresses this need. The objective of this research is to develop a multispectral lighting simulation tool that can be used to calculate both photopic and melanopic lighting values (v.0 - v.1.0) and neuropic lighting values (v.3.0). Instead of utilizing the traditional 3 channel simulation, multi channel simulation allows the user to divide the spectra in any number of channels.

SOFTWARE:

LarkSpectralLighting
  • Lark Multi-Spectral Lighting tool, is developed in Grasshoper/Rhino environment. The simulation engine is Radiance; and Lark is provided as an open source and freely available tool. The objective is to make circadian lighting analysis more accessible to architects, lighting designers, researchers, and other interested parties. Lark allows for simulations both in 3 and 9 channels. Along with photopic luminance and illuminance values, Equivalent melanopic illuminance (EML), and Equivalent Neuropic illuminance (ENL) and -luminance (EM.cd/m2) values are computed.
  • Lark Spectral Lighting Tool reaches new milestones:
  • Lark Version 3.0 is developed as a collaboration between Univeristy of Washington (Mehlika Inanici, Ph.D., Bo Jung, and Zining Cheng) and ZGF Architects. It is funded by Appled Research Consurtium and ZGF Architects based on v.1.0 and 2.0. It can be downloaded from Food4Rhino. Github link, Youtube link (for tutorials).
  • Blog on v.3.0.
  • Lark version 2.0 is developed by Clotilde Pierson, Ph.D. (EPFL, Oregon State University) and Myrta Gkaintatzi-Masouti, M.Sc. (Eindhoven University of Technology ) based on Lark v.1.0.
  • After 7 years of beta version, Lark 1.0 is released in 2022 as a collaboration between Mehlika Inanici (University of Washington) and ZGF Architects (with Marty Brennan).
  • Lark was originallt developed as a collaboration between Mehlika Inanici (University of Washington) and ZGF Architects (with Marty Brennan and Ed Clark) and beta version of Lark is releasaed in 2015.
  • Relevant blog v1.0.

 

 


PUBLICATIONS:

 

PRESENTATIONS:

 

LINKS:

Links to relevant other research and publications:Sky Spectra Models / HDR_Circadian capture


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HDR
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MEASURING THE SKY SPECTRA

spectrophotometer

We installed a spectrophotometer the roof of Gould Hall at the University of Washington to measure the spectral variability of the Seattle skies. The data collection started in June 2021. The equipment (Ocean Insight Flame VIS-NIR Spectrometer) and its installation is funded by ZGF Architects and the University of Washington, College of Built Environments, Applied Research Consortium.

 

 

 

 

 


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HDR
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SKY SPECTRA MODELS

sky spectra

PUBLICATIONS:

Spectral properties of daylight surpasses any other light source. Its dynamic intensity and spectra across the full spectrum facilitates sustainable daylighting practices, produces best color rendition, and regulates circadian rhythms in all living beings. However, simulation models do not typically include spectral variability; daylight is modelled as a uniform, equal energy white source. In this paper, tristimulus calibration procedures are utilized to create spectrally accurate High Dynamic Range (HDR) photographs. HDR photographs of skies are collected and utilized as an input to image based lighting (IBL) simulations. The impact of color variations across the sky dome and between different sky conditions are studied. Per-pixel photopic luminances, tri-stimulus chromatic distributions, Correlated Color Temperatures (CCT) and circadian luminance and illuminance values are quantified for image-based daylighting simulations, and compared with standard colorless Perez skies.

LINKS:

Links to relevant other research and publications: Sky Models / Image based sky models

 


 

 


HDR
PER-PIXEL
SIM

 

DAYLIGHTING AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING ANALYSIS OF HAGIA SOPHIA USING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE AND SIMULATION

The lighting quality in Hagia Sophia has been a topic of interest for centuries among visitors, writers, poets, and researchers. In fact, almost all literature on Hagia Sophia includes a brief statement on its daylighting and sunlighting. In these documents lighting is defined as “poetic”, “magical” and “mystical”. Yet, there were not any comprehensive quantitative studies on Hagia Sophia’s lighting. The objectives of this research is:

1) To study the interior luminance values, luminance distribution patterns and luminance ratios in Hagia Sophia under naturally occurring sky conditions(the factors that are instrumental for creating the unique luminous environment in Hagia Sophia are discussed).

2) To study the electric lighting in conjunction with the daylighting in Hagia Sophia (the impact of electric lighting on the ambient light levels and luminance distribution patterns is evaluated during daylight hours).

 

PUBLICATIONS:

HagiaSophia HagiaSophia-fclegend

LINKS:

Links to relevant other research and publications: HDR photography / Extrapolation


 

HDR
 

MEASURING CIRCADIAN LIGHTING WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY

circadian-hdr

 

PUBLICATIONS:

The human ocular system functions in a dual manner. While the most well-known function is to facilitate vision, a growing body of research demonstrates its role in resetting the internal body clock to synchronize with the 24-hour daily cycle. Most research on circadian rhythms is performed in controlled laboratory environments. Little is known about the variability of circadian light within the built and natural environments. Currently, very few specialized devices measure the circadian light, and they are not accessible to many researchers and practitioners. In this paper, tristimulus colour calibration procedures for high dynamic range photography are developed to measure circadian lighting. Camera colour accuracy is evaluated through CIE trichromatic (XYZ) measurements; and the results demonstrate a strong linear relationship between the camera recordings and a scientific-grade colorimeter. Therefore, it is possible to correct for the colour aberrations and use high dynamic range photographs to measure both photopic and circadian lighting values. Spectrophotometric measurements are collected to validate the methodology. Results demonstrate that measurements from high dynamic range photographs can correspond to the physical quantity of circadian luminance with reasonable precision and repeatability. Circadian data collected in built environments can be utilized to study the impact of design decisions on human circadian entrainment and to create guidelines and metrics for designing circadian friendly environments.

PRESENTATIONS:

LINKS:

Links to relevant other research and publications: HDR photography / Lark


 

SIM
HDR
 

COMPUTING LONG TERM LUMINANCE MAPS FROM LIMITED NUMBER OF HDR IMAGERY

dnn2

PUBLICATIONS:

Annual luminance maps provide meaningful evaluations for occupants’ visual comfort and perception. This paper presents a novel data-driven approach for predicting annual luminance maps from a limited number of point-in-time high-dynamic-range imagery by utilizing a deep neural network. A sensitivity analysis is performed to develop guidelines for determining the minimum and optimum data collection periods for generating accurate maps. The proposed model can faithfully predict high-quality annual panoramic luminance maps from one of the three options within 30 min training time: (i) point-in-time luminance imagery spanning 5% of the year, when evenly distributed during daylight hours, (ii) one-month hourly imagery generated during daylight hours around the equinoxes; or (iii) 9 days of hourly data collected around the spring equinox, summer and winter solstices (2.5% of the year) all suffice to predict the luminance maps for the rest of the year. The DNN predicted high-quality panoramas are validated against Radiance renderings.

This paper presents a novel method to accelerate annual luminance-based evaluations utilizing a deep neural network (DNN). From a small subset (5%) of high dynamic range (HDR) imagery, our method can predict annual panoramic luminance maps (with 360-degrees horizontal and 180-degrees vertical field of view) within an hour. Unlike the fixed camera viewpoint of perspective or fisheye projections that are commonly used in daylighting evaluations, panoramas allow full degree-of-freedom in camera roll, pitch, and yaw, thus providing a robust source of information for an occupant’s visual experience in a given environment. The DNN predicted high-quality panoramas are validated against Radiance RPICT renderings using a series of quantitative and qualitative metrics. With the developed workflow, practitioners and researchers can incorporate long-term luminance-based metrics over multiple view directions into the design and research process without the lengthy computing processes.

This paper describes the development of a novel prediction model to generate annual luminance maps of indoor space from a subset of images by using deep neural networks (DNNs). This paper describes the development of a novel prediction model to generate annual luminance maps of indoor space from a subset of images by using deep neural networks (DNNs). This model can be applied to accelerate annual luminance-based simulations and lays the groundwork for generating annual luminance maps utilizing High Dynamic Range captures of existing environments.

Computing Long-term Daylighting Simulations from High Dynamic Range Imagery using Deep Neural Networks received the Best paper Award in the 2018 Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild, co-organized by ASHRAE and IBPSA-USA.

 

Hagia Sophia

This paper describes the development of a technique for extrapolation of dynamic daylighting simulations from a limited number of high dynamic range photographs.  This technique allows us to photographically capture and measure per-pixel lighting quantities from existing spaces in a limited time frame; and the measured information is used to establish a statistics based daylight coefficient model for the studied scene. It negates the need to explicitly model the geometry, material and lighting properties in existing environments, as they would be required in a typical simulation and daylight coefficient computation. Statistics based daylight coefficients can be used to perform daylighting simulations under any generic, arbitrary or any physically occurring sky conditions.

 

PRESENTATIONS:


 

COLLABORATIONS

PUBLICATIONS:


 

SIM

DAYLIGHT DRIVEN CIRCADIAN LIGHTING DESIGN

circ_des1

circ-des2

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this research, the groundwork is established to start to create a set of guidelines to help architects and designers maximize the potential for daylight to provide circadian stimulus at the earliest stages of a project. This is accomplished through a series of lighting simulations that explore and test various architectural parameters that affect daylight-driven circadian lighting, with simultaneous consideration given to photopic lighting availability and visual comfort. The architectural parameters tested in this study included window head height, building orientation, shading devices, visual obstructions to the sky, and room depth. The results show that informed design decisions could maximize circadian potential in a given space, while achieving visually satisfactory luminous environments.

PUBLICATIONS:

LINKS:

Links to relevant other research and publications: Lark / Sky Spectra


SIM
HDR
IBL

COMPARISON OF SKY MODELLING PRACTICES AND SIMULATION TECHNIQUES

3-5 PHASE

 

PUBLICATIONS:

Occupant centric performance approaches in daylighting studies promote design decisions that support human visual comfort, productivity, and visual preferences, along with more conventional energy efficiency criteria. Simulating per-pixel luminance values and luminance distribution patterns for the entire scene allows us to analyze the occupant centric metrics and performance criteria. However, there are a number of different sky models, complex fenestration models, and simulation techniques that produce either conventional point in time images or annual luminance maps. This paper discusses the similarities and differences between different techniques; and a comparison analyses provides insight about their impact on occupant centric lighting measures. The comparisons for sky modeling include the conventional CIE skies (Clear, Intermediate, and Overcast), measurement based CIE models, Perez all-weather skies, and high dynamic range image based skies. The comparison of simulation techniques include point in time simulations, image based lighting simulations, and annual luminance simulations (three-phase and five-phase methods). Results demonstrate that measurement based sky models match real world conditions with reasonable proximity, and generic CIE skies consistently underestimate the indoor lighting conditions. Annual simulation methods provide a large database of temporal luminance variations, where individual instances are comparable to point in time simulations. Long term luminance simulations provide opportunities to evaluate the percentage of the year that a given luminance based criteria is met or violated.

skies

Inanici M. and Liu Y. “Robust Sky Modelling Practices in Daylighting Simulations,” Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2016 Conference, Los Angeles, CA, July 11-13, 2016.

The demand for more sustainable building practices prompted the use of more analytical tools in the design processes. This research addresses a need to compare various sky models used in daylighting practices. The sky models can be mathematical or image based; they can be generic or measurement based. The selection of the right model depends on the scope of the simulation. It is recommended to use generic CIE models only for basic comparisons. When generated or calibrated with diffuse and direct irradiance values, CIE, Perez, and image based sky models yield to comparable results. Image based sky models are most useful to capture the local conditions that include the complexities of clouds and solar corona, surrounding urban fabric and forestry.

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: Image Based Skies / hdrscope / HDRI / Extrapolation


HDR
 

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY AS A LUMINANCE MAPPING TECHNIQUE

hdr overflow

The potential, limitations, and applicability of the High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography technique is evaluated as a luminance mapping tool. Multiple exposure photographs of static scenes are taken with a  digital camera to capture the wide luminance variation within the scenes. The camera response function is computationally derived using the Photosphere software, and is used to fuse the multiple photographs into HDR images. The vignetting effect and point spread function of the camera and lens system is determined. Laboratory and field studies have shown that the pixel values in the HDR photographs can correspond to the physical quantity of luminance with reasonable precision and repeatability.

hdr1 hdr-falsecolor legend

 

PUBLICATIONS:

 

PRESENTATIONS:

 

APPLICATIONS:

nt

Daylighting the New York Times Headquarters Building

Low Glare Outdoor Luminaire: California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Buildings Program

New Lighting Solutions for High-Bay Spaces: High-output T5 Lamps and Luminaires- Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Focus, Fall 2004.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

"Evaluation of High Dynamic Range Photography as a Luminance Measurement Technique" was funded by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Building Technology, Building Technologies Program of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098.

 

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: Image Based Skies / hdrscope / Extrapolation / Hagia Sophia


SIM
HDR
PER-PIXEL

hdrscope

This paper describes the development of a new tool called hdrscope that enables users to perform qualitative and quantitative lighting analysis via per-pixel methods. Using a simulated and photographically captured lab space as a case study, per-pixel analysis methods are described, challenges associated with per-pixel lighting analysis are discussed, and hdrscope analysis techniques are demonstrated. hdrscope is intended to lower the entry barrier for lighting professionals, and to facilitate the utilization of lighting analysis in early design and development stages as well as post occupancy. It also provides a user friendly tool for lighting experts while filling in the gaps among the current lighting analysis tools.

hdrscope

PUBLICATIONS:

SOFTWARE:

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: Image Based Skies / hdrscope / Extrapolation / Hagia Sophia


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IBL

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF IMAGE BASED SKY MODELS FOR DAYLIGHTING APPLICATIONS

 

This research demonstrates the use of High Dynamic Range (HDR) fisheye images of the sky dome in lighting simulations. The objective is to improve the accuracy of simulations with site specific sky conditions. The luminance information stored at a pixel level in an HDR photograph is used to light the simulated environment through an Image Based Rendering (IBR) technique. The results show that image based sky models can provide a more accurate and efficient method for defining the sky luminance distributions and the impact of surrounding urban fabric and vegetation as compared to generic CIE sky models and explicit modeling of surrounding urban fabric and forestry.

 

ibl

 

PUBLICATIONS:

PRESENTATION:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

This work was funded by the University of Washington Royalty Research Fund (2009-2010).

DATA:

HDR sky images were captured for one day in every month between December to June (winter solstice to summer solstice) at 15 minute intervals during daylight hours. The database includes images from December 28, 2009 (32 image sets), Jan 31, 2010 (38 image sets), Feb. 20, 2010 (43 image sets), March 27, 2010 (49 image sets), April 25, 2010 (48 sets), May 23 (43 image sets), and June 22 (53 image sets). The dates were chosen around the 21st of each month. Dates vary to allow capturing varying weather conditions and to avoid inclement weather (to prevent equipment damage). The database covers a wide range of possible sun angles and sky conditions for Seattle.

 

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: HDRI / hdrscope / Extrapolation


SIM
PER-PIXEL

 

GlareShade: A VISUAL COMFORT BASED APPROACH TO OCCUPANT CENTRIC SHADING SYSTEMS

glareshade1glareshade2

 

This paper presents a novel method for designing of an occupant-centric shading algorithm that utilizes visual comfort metric as the form-generating criteria. Based on the premise of previous studies that demonstrate glare as the most important factor for operating shading devices, GlareShade is introduced as a simulation-based shading methodology driven by occupant’s visual comfort. GlareShade not only responds to changing outdoor conditions such as the movement of the sun and the variation of cloud cover, but it also accounts for building specific local conditions. GlareShade draws its strength and flexibility from an occupant-centric approach that is based on the visual field of view of each occupant as the occupant is performing common visual tasks in a given environment, and the developed shading system is linked to a distributed sensing network of multiple occupants. ShadeFan is demonstrated as a proof-of-concept dynamic shading system utilizing the GlareShade method.

 


HDR
PER-PIXEL
 

LUMINANCE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS AND GLARE: HUMAN VISUAL COMFORT METRICS

human factors

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: HDRI / hdrscope / Per-Pixel


SIM
   

LUMINANCE CONTRAST AS A DEPTH CUE

cue

 

PUBLICATIONS:


PER-PIXEL

PER-PIXEL LIGHTING DATA ANALYSIS

 

PUBLICATIONS:

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: Image Based Skies / hdrscope / HDRI / VLL

 

 


SIM
   

NEW METRIC FOR QUANTIFYING THE DIRECTIONALITY OF LIGHT:

DIRECTIONAL - TO - DIFFUSE RATIO

venus

Directionality of light is the balance between the diffuse and directional components within an environment. It has a significant impact on the appearance of 3D objects; and the visual performance and comfort of occupants within that environment. Poor directionality may produce harsh shadows on the task, cause veiling reflections towards the viewing angle, or create a dull environment. Adequate directionality may model 3D surfaces, reveal the surface textures or details of a task, and create an aesthetically pleasing environment.

A new metric is derived from the basic definition of directionality: The diffuse and directional components of the luminous environment are isolated as a unique feature of simulation-based approach and the ratio of the directional-to-diffuse light is calculated. The rationale and methodology of the directional-to-diffuse ratio is discussed through visual demonstrations and quantified metrics.

directionality

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PUBLICATION:


SIM
   

VIRTUAL LIGHTING LABORATORY

VLL

Virtual Lighting Laboratory (VLL) is an advanced lighting analysis tool and methodology that is based on post-processing of the physically-based renderings. It enhances the integration of the lighting analysis into the architectural design process through computational tools that make the analysis more convenient, accessible, accurate, and rigorous. The research includes the theory, implementation, and application of the virtual meters (luminance meter, illuminance meter, contrast meter, integrating sphere, and colorimeter) as well as the development of unique analysis options and metrics that are pertinent to the computational per-pixel data.

 

PUBLICATIONS:

PRESENTATION:

 

VLL2

LINKS:

Link to relevant other research and publications: Per-Pixel / hdrscope / HDRI

 


 

EEB
   

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING DESIGN

PUBLICATIONS:

 

 

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© Mehlika Inanici
Last update: August 2022