Details:

Creators:
Garvey, Philip M.
Corporate Creators:
Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Brightness Perception
Legibility (Printing)
Variable Message Signs--Lighting
Brightness
Field Tests
Illuminated Traffic Signs
Legibility
Periods Of The Day
Test Procedures
Variable Message Signs

Publication/ Report Number:
PSU-2011-05
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Edition:
Final report.
Corporate Publisher:
Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center
NTL Classification:
NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human Factors ;
Abstract:
Research conducted recently for the United States Sign Council Foundation found no consensus in the research

literature or the practices of the commercial electronic message center (EMC) industry on lighting measurement

or appropriate lighting levels of on-premise EMCs, nor are there any national standards for EMC lighting levels

developed through research at this time. It was clear that, in order to make them optimally legible during daytime

hours and at night, the lighting levels of these EMCs must be (and typically are) adjusted automatically as a

function of ambient light level. However, the procedures for measuring EMC light levels and the appropriate levels

to set the signs during some daytime scenarios (e.g., dusk/dawn and overcast) and at night are inconsistent

among the leading U.S. EMC manufacturers and are not supported by empirical, independent, human factors

data. This has led to complaints of EMC’s being “over bright,” primarily at night, though this issue has also been

reported during dusk and dawn hours and under overcast daytime conditions. The objective of this research was

to begin addressing this situation by developing, through original field and test track research, EMC lighting levels

that would optimize sign legibility at night from the prospective of a motorist who is viewing the EMC, and to

develop standard light level testing procedures.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
DTRT07-G-0003
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
University Transportation Centers
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:8a3f85f3781b0d925aa3a038c3b9a70c6ff0d31df5d54abac9c95bbdc3a98f8e
File Type:

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