United States Department of Transportation
i
The development of optimal on-premise Electronic Message Center (EMC) lighting levels and sign lighting measurement techniques.
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2013-02-01
[PDF-157.79 KB]
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Edition:Final report.
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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.
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