A Study on the Design of Pedestrian-friendly Handrail-mounted Pathway Lighting with Reduced Light Pollution

In this study, we explore the development process of pedestrian-friendly landscape lighting by improving the reflector design, focusing on handrail-mounted pathway lighting, while minimizing light pollution by reducing backlight. Although advancements in lighting technology have led to the widespread use of artificial lighting and enhanced human convenience, they have also had significant negative impacts on the ecological environment and human health due to increased light pollution. In response, various predictive evaluations of lighting systems and light pollution assessments have been conducted, and legal regulations also have been implemented. However, proactive research in lighting design aimed at preventing light pollution remains insufficient. We analyzed how variations in reflector material and shape influence luminosity distribution and illuminance uniformity in handrail-mounted pathway lighting. Based on these findings, we discussed reflector design directions to enhance user convenience and mitigate light pollution in landscape lighting. These improvements are also expected to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, thereby increasing energy efficiency. Also, this paper presents a lighting design in which two linear light sources are arranged on a single reflector, providing a selectable lighting environment suitable for adults taller than 1.5m and children taller than 0.8m.