Evaluating human photoreceptoral inputs from night-time lights using RGB imaging photometry

DOI: 
10.3390/jimaging5040049
Publication date: 
08/07/2019
Main author: 
de Miguel A.S.
IAA authors: 
de Miguel, A.S.
Authors: 
de Miguel A.S., Bará S., Aubé M., Cardiel N., Tapia C.E., Zamorano J., Gaston K.J.
Journal: 
Journal of Imaging
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
5.0
Number: 
49
Abstract: 
Night-time lights interact with human physiology through different pathways starting at the retinal layers of the eye; from the signals provided by the rods; the S-, L- and M-cones; and the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC). These individual photic channels combine in complex ways to modulate important physiological processes, among them the daily entrainment of the neural master oscillator that regulates circadian rhythms. Evaluating the relative excitation of each type of photoreceptor generally requires full knowledge of the spectral power distribution of the incoming light, information that is not easily available in many practical applications. One such instance is wide area sensing of public outdoor lighting; present-day radiometers onboard Earth-orbiting platforms with sufficient nighttime sensitivity are generally panchromatic and lack the required spectral discrimination capacity. In this paper, we show that RGB imagery acquired with off-the-shelf digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR) can be a useful tool to evaluate, with reasonable accuracy and high angular resolution, the photoreceptoral inputs associated with a wide range of lamp technologies. The method is based on linear regressions of these inputs against optimum combinations of the associated R, G, and B signals, built for a large set of artificial light sources by means of synthetic photometry. Given the widespread use of RGB imaging devices, this approach is expected to facilitate the monitoring of the physiological effects of light pollution, from ground and space alike, using standard imaging technology. © 2019 by the authors.
Database: 
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85067640195&doi=10.3390%2fjimaging5040049&partnerID=40&md5=e50ba78e63149ead60017a9128d11513
Keywords: 
Artificial light at night; Circadian phototransduction; DSLR cameras; Imaging; Light pollution; Night-time lights; Non-visual effects of light; RGB sensors