Daylight Science and Daylighting Technology

Sunlight profoundly influences the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere. Nature fuels the evolution of all living things, their visual systems, and the manner in which they adapt, accommodate, and habituate. Sun luminance measurements serve as data to calculate typical changes in the daily, monthly, and annual variability characteristics of daylight. Climate-based sky luminance patterns are used as models in predicting daylighting calculation and computer programs applied in architecture and building design. Historically, daylight science and daylighting technology has prioritized photometric methods of measurements, calculation, and graphical tools aimed at predicting or evaluating the daylighting of architectural design alternatives. However, due to a heightened awareness of general health and well-being, sunlight exposure and freedom from visual discomfort while undertaking visual tasks are now equally prioritized. Therefore, in order to assure optimal environmental quality, daylighting technology must be based on sound science. __Daylight Science and Daylighting Technology__, by Richard Kittler, Miroslav Kocifaj, and Stanislav Darula, sketches the entire evolution of daylight science from atmospheric science through apt visual workplace psychophysics. Annotation Sunlight profoundly influences the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere. Nature fuels the evolution of all living things, their visual systems, and the manner in which they adapt, accommodate, and habituate. Sun luminance measurements serve as data to calculate typical changes in the daily, monthly, and annual variability characteristics of daylight. Climate-based sky luminance patterns are used as models in predicting daylighting calculation and computer programs applied in architecture and building design. Historically, daylight science and daylighting technology has prioritized photometric methods of measurements, calculation, and graphical tools aimed at predicting or evaluating the daylighting of architectural design alternatives. However, due to a heightened awareness of general health and well-being, sunlight exposure and freedom from visual discomfort while undertaking visual tasks are now equally prioritized. Therefore, in order to assure optimal environmental quality, daylighting technology must be based on sound science. Daylight Science and Daylighting Technology, by Richard Kittler, Miroslav Kocifaj, and Stanislav Darula, sketches the entire evolution of daylight science from atmospheric science through apt visual workplace psychophysics Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Introduction....Pages 1-4 Short Historical Review of Daylight Utilization by Living Creatures....Pages 5-43 Daylight Photometry: History, Principles, and Empirical Development....Pages 45-95 Propagation of Light in the Atmospheric Environment....Pages 97-125 Sky Luminance Characteristics....Pages 127-154 Simulation of Seasonal Variations in the Local Daylight Climate....Pages 155-186 Fundamental Principles for Daylight Calculation Methods....Pages 187-208 Analytical Calculation Methods and Tools for the Design of Unglazed Apertures....Pages 209-232 Daylight Methods and Tools to Design Glazed Windows and Skylights....Pages 233-255 Modeling Daylight Distribution in Complex Architectural Spaces....Pages 257-284 The Neurophysiology and Psychophysics of Visual Perception....Pages 285-309 Discomfort and Disability Glare in the Visual Environment....Pages 311-334 Back Matter....Pages 331-336 This overview of daylight science discusses visual systems, human adaptation and creation of the built environment, determination of sunlight and skylight under varying conditions, and calculation prediction of windows and daylight distribution in interiors.