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Dr. Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska
Co-founder & Co-director of GUT LightLab, Faculty of Architecture Gdansk University of Technology (GUT)

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0 Architectural Lighting
0 Daylighting
0 Light pollution
0 Light and environment
0 Daylight architecture

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Hypothesis
Published: 13 January 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Over the past decades, lighting professionals have influenced the experience of the night by brightly illuminating streets, buildings, skylines, and landscapes 24/7. When this became the accepted norm, a dual perspective on night-time was shaped and the visual enjoyment of visitors after dusk was prioritized over natural nightscapes (nocturnal landscapes). During this time, researchers of artificial light at night (ALAN) observed and reported a gradual increase in unnatural brightness and a shift in color of the night-time environment. As a consequence, ALAN has been identified as a relevant pollutant of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and an environmental stressor, which may adversely affect a wide range of organisms, from micro-organisms to humans. Unfortunately, lighting professionals and ALAN researchers usually attempt to solve today’s sustainable urban lighting problems distinctive to their fields of study, without a dialogue between research and practice. Therefore, in order to translate research knowledge as an applicable solution for the lighting practice and to minimize the impact on the environment, a collaborative framework involving a transdisciplinary process with lighting professionals is crucial to potentially bring the practice, research, production, decision-making, and planning closer to each other. This paper presents a framework to help reduce the existing gap of knowledge, because appropriate lighting applications depend upon it. Access to less light polluted nightscapes in urban environments is just as important as access to unpolluted water, food, and air. This call for action towards sustainable urban lighting should be included in future lighting policies to solve the urgent environmental and health challenges facing our world.

ACS Style

Catherine Pérez Vega; Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Franz Hölker. Urban Lighting Research Transdiciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 624 .

AMA Style

Catherine Pérez Vega, Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Franz Hölker. Urban Lighting Research Transdiciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (2):624.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Catherine Pérez Vega; Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Franz Hölker. 2021. "Urban Lighting Research Transdiciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 2: 624.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2020 in Sustainability
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Due to the wide reach of media reports about scientific research and technological tools such as the world wide web (WWW), the Internet, and web browsers, citizens today have access to factual information about the negative impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on their dark skies, and their health and well-being. This means they can now make educated decisions and take the necessary steps to help protect themselves and their communities from disruptive light pollution. Whilst this action is positive and welcomed, unfortunately, according to collected data, not all such initiatives have been successful. Although our understanding of this groundswell movement is deepening, further studies are required to complete a worldwide picture of the current situation. This paper therefore investigates the various actions taken by citizens, as well as the challenges, methods, and tools involved, regarding good practices initiated by grass roots activism on how to reduce existing and potential light pollution. The results of a comparative analysis of 262 international case studies (lawsuits and online petitions) reveal that, since the 1990s, there has been an increase in the number of legal cases related to light pollution due to the rise in public awareness, the availability of scientific knowledge via the Internet, and the ability to take accurate lighting measurements and perform lighting simulations. Also, in the last decade a new tool for digital participation in the form of online petitions has established a new movement of citizen action to mitigate the effects of light pollution. Based on this information, a seven-step framework involving recommendations for citizen action has been developed. It is expected that this new knowledge will benefit those citizens planning future efforts involving the development, implementation, and monitoring processes of outdoor lighting. Additionally, it might support the evolution of planning and policy approaches that are sustainable and necessary to improve the application and installation of ecologically/biologically responsible illumination for towns, cities, and natural habitats.

ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielińska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia; Katarzyna Bobkowska. Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4997 .

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielińska-Dabkowska, Kyra Xavia, Katarzyna Bobkowska. Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (12):4997.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielińska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia; Katarzyna Bobkowska. 2020. "Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives." Sustainability 12, no. 12: 4997.

Journal article
Published: 22 June 2019 in Sustainability
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Urban environments have become significantly brighter and more illuminated, and cities now consider media architecture and non-static, self-luminous LED displays an essential element of their strategy to attract residents, visitors, and tourists in the hours after dark. Unfortunately, most often, they are not designed with care, consideration, and awareness, nor do they support the visual wellbeing and circadian rhythms of humans. They also increase light pollution which has an adverse effect on the environment. The aim of this study was to estimate the scale of the negative impact of 28 non-static, self-luminous LED shop window displays within a real-life city context along the main shopping street Banhofstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland. An experimental field measurement survey investigation was performed to identify visual luminance with commonly available tools such as a luminance meter and a digital reflex camera for luminance photography. Moreover, the most important global approaches to reduce light pollution were evaluated in the form of existing guidelines, technical standards, and laws, all of which should be considered when specifying illuminated digital advertisements. A literature review and survey results both confirmed the extent of the problem and highlighted, too, the need to better measure, apply, and manage this new technology. The authors’ proposal for improvements involve practical recommendations for the design and implementation of future projects which can positively guide and direct this growing trend.

ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia. Global Approaches to Reduce Light Pollution from Media Architecture and Non-Static, Self-Luminous LED Displays for Mixed-Use Urban Developments. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3446 .

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Kyra Xavia. Global Approaches to Reduce Light Pollution from Media Architecture and Non-Static, Self-Luminous LED Displays for Mixed-Use Urban Developments. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (12):3446.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia. 2019. "Global Approaches to Reduce Light Pollution from Media Architecture and Non-Static, Self-Luminous LED Displays for Mixed-Use Urban Developments." Sustainability 11, no. 12: 3446.

Journal article
Published: 08 May 2019 in Sustainability
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Ornamental plants are often used in indoor environments as part of biophilic design to improve the health and wellbeing of occupants, and to support sustainable, green architecture. Unfortunately, many plants do not thrive and need to be continuously replaced, which is economically unsustainable. The wavelengths and spectrum ratio of commonly used light sources such as light emitting diode (LED), and the lack of an appropriate light dark cycle (photoperiod), appear to be crucial influencing factors. Therefore, this study focuses on determining the optimal action spectrum of LEDs for visually and biologically effective illumination for plants, and humans as end users. This practice-based research study applies critical analysis of literature, photographic evaluation of the appearance of plants under various LED lighting in the form of a visual assessment questionnaire-based survey, and provides various measurements that record the properties of light including correlated color temperature (CCT), color rendering index (CRI), spectral power distribution (SPD), peak light wavelength (λP), photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and daily light integrals (DLI). Research confirms the LED lighting used for horticultural food production cannot be applied to ornamental indoor plants due to fundamental differences in purpose. Such illumination provides fast growth for market consumption and usually makes plants appear unnatural, whereas ornamental plants in an indoor environment should grow at an appropriate speed which reduces maintenance costs and they should have a natural appearance. These new findings, supported by evidence and data, can help investors, clients, architects, landscape and lighting designers, as well as luminaire manufacturers, make improved, biophilic-sustainable lighting design choices.

ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Julia Hartmann; Carla Sigillo. LED Light Sources and Their Complex Set-Up for Visually and Biologically Effective Illumination for Ornamental Indoor Plants. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2642 .

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Julia Hartmann, Carla Sigillo. LED Light Sources and Their Complex Set-Up for Visually and Biologically Effective Illumination for Ornamental Indoor Plants. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (9):2642.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Julia Hartmann; Carla Sigillo. 2019. "LED Light Sources and Their Complex Set-Up for Visually and Biologically Effective Illumination for Ornamental Indoor Plants." Sustainability 11, no. 9: 2642.

Comment
Published: 23 April 2019 in Nature
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ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia. Protect our right to light. Nature 2019, 568, 451 -453.

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Kyra Xavia. Protect our right to light. Nature. 2019; 568 (7753):451-453.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Kyra Xavia. 2019. "Protect our right to light." Nature 568, no. 7753: 451-453.

Journal article
Published: 16 January 2018 in Nature
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Artificial illumination can stop us sleeping and make us ill. We need fresh strategies and technologies, argues Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska.

ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Make lighting healthier. Nature 2018, 553, 274 -276.

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Make lighting healthier. Nature. 2018; 553 (7688):274-276.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. 2018. "Make lighting healthier." Nature 553, no. 7688: 274-276.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2016 in The Role of Cultural Institutions and Events in the Marketing of Cities and Regions
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ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Night in a big city. Light festivals as a creative medium used at night and their impact on the authority, significance and prestige of a city. The Role of Cultural Institutions and Events in the Marketing of Cities and Regions 2016, 1 .

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Night in a big city. Light festivals as a creative medium used at night and their impact on the authority, significance and prestige of a city. The Role of Cultural Institutions and Events in the Marketing of Cities and Regions. 2016; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. 2016. "Night in a big city. Light festivals as a creative medium used at night and their impact on the authority, significance and prestige of a city." The Role of Cultural Institutions and Events in the Marketing of Cities and Regions , no. : 1.

Conference paper
Published: 01 January 2014 in Proceedings of the 2nd Media Architecture Biennale Conference on World Cities - MAB '14
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ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Critical perspectives on media architecture. Proceedings of the 2nd Media Architecture Biennale Conference on World Cities - MAB '14 2014, 101 -108.

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. Critical perspectives on media architecture. Proceedings of the 2nd Media Architecture Biennale Conference on World Cities - MAB '14. 2014; ():101-108.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska. 2014. "Critical perspectives on media architecture." Proceedings of the 2nd Media Architecture Biennale Conference on World Cities - MAB '14 , no. : 101-108.

Conference paper
Published: 30 August 2021
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ACS Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Amardeep M. Dugar. Towards Defragmented Lighting Design: concatenating research theories for effective use in design practices. 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska, Amardeep M. Dugar. Towards Defragmented Lighting Design: concatenating research theories for effective use in design practices. . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Karolina M. Zielinska-Dabkowska; Amardeep M. Dugar. 2021. "Towards Defragmented Lighting Design: concatenating research theories for effective use in design practices." , no. : 1.