Comparative Validation of Light Environment Simulation with Actual Measurements

Abstract

The quality of indoor lighting significantly influences human well-being, emphasizing the need to integrate lighting planning into the architectural design process. To optimize indoor lighting conditions, light environment simulations are commonly employed. While much of the relevant literature clearly shows that simulations are widely used to predict lighting environments, there is limited active research validating these simulations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the alignment between actual measurements and simulations, specifically focusing on daylight-induced glare. To achieve this, a comparative analysis and verification of glare levels between simulations and actual measurements were conducted that accounted for glare location and direction. Disparities between the simulated and measured glare levels were revealed contingent on the glare location and direction. These variations primarily arose from the simulation’s utilization of a fisheye field of view (FOV) for glare measurement. To improve the accuracy of glare analysis in simulations, it is advisable to follow the standards related to the human perception of glare, such as the human field of view (FOV), instead of solely depending on a fisheye FOV. The study’s limitations include challenges in environmental replication, minor measurement errors, and tree branch shading interference. Despite the potential for simulations to not replicate temporary glare effects, consistent differences with actual measurements indicate that the fisheye FOV was a key contributing factor. © 2023 by the authors.