The firm carries out a large number of similar environmental impact assessments and design projects for port developments each year. One task is to ensure that any proposed lighting system within a port is created to ensure compliance with statutory legislation. In particular, the obligation to minimise the impact of the lighting upon the surrounding environment in terms of light pollution must be met.

The issue of light pollution has become increasingly relevant in recent years, especially where extensions to existing ports or the development of new port facilities are being provided. These can have a significant impact upon the surrounding area if the lighting is not designed correctly and its likely environmental impact not fully assessed.

The role of consultants is to advise, liaise and provide technical expertise for clients on potential light pollution. This includes ensuring that they are fully aware of the issues to be addressed, such as local planning requirements and the likely impacts that lighting could have outside the boundary of the port. Through this process the proposed port lighting, local planning restrictions or controls and its environmental impact can be fully assessed, addressed and where necessary mitigated at the early stage of the port development.

Once operational lighting illuminance requirements, environmental assessment and obtrusive light limitation factors have been established for ‘sky glow’, light spill, light trespass and glare, the design process can begin. The operational and obtrusive light limitation factors and environmental impacts are monitored continuously through the design development, often leading to revisions of the lighting design many times to provide the required installation.

Through good lighting design, taking account of all the regulations, operational requirements and the likely environmental impact, the lighting designer will ensure that the correct level of illumination is provided in the desired locations. The set light limitation factors for obtrusive light outside the boundaries will also be met, thereby limiting any potential impact upon the surrounding environment, which in most ports is the local community and/or wildlife.

Good lighting designs and the use of luminaires with good optical control, flat glass construction and zero direct upward light can minimise and avoid unnecessary over lighting, limit light spill and light trespass from the port, and reduce sky glow and glare. Such designs can therefore also reduce the number of luminaires required to illuminate an area and the associated capital investment and energy running costs to the port operator.

MJ Information No: 22412