Light pollution, most visible in large cities through the absence of star-filled night skies, has become a growing issue of concern across many disciplines. It is not just an esthetic or astronomical problem, but a complex phenomenon with widespread effects on various sectors. The scientific literature highlights several key areas impacted either directly or indirectly by light pollution: astronomy, ecology and biodiversity, the environment and climate change, human health and well-being, the ongoing energy crisis, economy, tourism, public safety and security, and finally politics. A survey was conducted to explore two main objectives. The first was to evaluate public awareness of light pollution, particularly how individuals perceive its impact across different societal sectors. The second objective was to consult lighting experts to obtain detailed insights into how severely each sector is affected by light pollution. The data collected from both the general public and lighting experts were analyzed and compared to provide a clearer picture of light pollution’s actual consequences. This dual-perspective approach aims to identify potential gaps between public perception and expert knowledge. Understanding these gaps is essential for shaping effective awareness campaigns and informing policy decisions. Ultimately, this research serves as a foundational step toward prioritizing mitigation strategies. By aligning scientific data with social understanding, stakeholders can develop targeted interventions that reduce light pollution’s negative effects while promoting sustainable lighting practices for the future.

The outdoor lighting constitutes a significant part of the night activities of people in contemporary cities. Nevertheless, in many cases, this may result in the increasing and irrational use of it affecting the users of public areas, the environment and driving safety. The subject of this paper is to extend the discussion on the subject, to provide answers and to suggest methods for the improvement of the existing conditions in urban street lighting through the use of new technologies and smart lighting management systems, with the aim of achieving a smooth relationship between the user’s needs, safety, sustainability, quality of life and energy saving.

Light pollution refers to the result of excessive and incorrectly targeted artificial lighting, which is observed in large cities and is mainly identified by the absence of starry skies. The purpose of this research is the interdisciplinary analysis of the effects of light pollution in various fields such as astronomy, ecology, environment, human health and wellbeing and the interaction between them. As light pollution has become more intense in recent years, the research also aims to explore the awareness of people on the phenomenon and the effect they believe it has on the various sectors affected. To explore the general knowledge of the world’s population regarding light pollution, a questionnaire was created and distributed to people around the world. A significant characteristic of the people involved is that they are not related to the subject or lighting in general. The analysis of the questionnaires provides with results on the correlation between all the above sectors affected by light pollution and recommends strategic solutions regarding its mitigation. Each society must become more conscious on the subject both individually, since each country has a different level of light pollution, but also collectively because it is an international issue that affects the environment. Also, people need to be aware of the problem and participate in the procedures for dealing with it.

Conceiving monument networks through lighting design

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the lighting of a commercial shop window can capture the gaze of the passers-by and create a desire to consume. Lighting invites the passer-by to see the shop window and to experience emotions. More specifically, the study focuses on the design of lighting and how it affects the structure, organization and atmosphere of a window display so that customers are attracted to the store through the AIDA method (Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action). The relation between lighting, perception of space and consumer’s psychology are explored in order to create an atmosphere that will cause reactions and evoke emotions. A virtual window space was designed as a case study with different lighting scenarios based on the principles of Richard Kelly. A questionnaire was formed and distributed to people of various ages and backgrounds in order to investigate whether lighting design can affect the psychology of the passers-by and arise consumer’s desire to enter the store. The results focus on the four parameters of the AIDA Model: a) how fast can the lighting of a shop window attract the eye of a passer-by (Awareness), b) whether lighting can direct the gaze to a specific point in the shop window (Interest), c) the relationship between lighting and emotion, i.e. what emotion can be provoked to the passer-by with each lighting technique applied in the studied window (Desire) and d) which lighting design techniques are more likely to make people enter the store (Action)