EvaluatingVisualEnvironmentUsingWide-AngleHigh.docVIP

Evaluating Visual Environment Using Wide-Angle High Dynamic Range Images Denis Fan Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK dfan@dmu.ac.uk ABSTRACT A good daylight design is aimed to provide fully efficient light for efficient visual performance, and to ensure a comfortable and pleasing environment appropriate to its purpose. However, the comfort aspect of daylight design is also closely related to the problem of glare. The aim of this paper is to describe a new method to evaluate visual environment, i.e. discomfort glare using High Dynamic Range (HDR) images captured in real-life office environment. HDR imaging is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range of luminance between light and dark areas of a scene than normal digital imaging techniques. The approach can accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows, and the image is usually referred to as a radiance map. Since every pixel represents a measurement value, the system introduces possibilities for fast measurement with high resolution. Unlike conventional technique such as spot metering that uses human eye to detect potential glare sources, an algorithm to determine which parts of the radiance map should be treated as ‘glare sources’ is proposed. Moreover, the detection should be effective and reliably to all possible glare sources scenario at different scene configuration. KEYWORDS glare source extraction; daylight; comfort; discomfort glare; HDR imaging techniques, clustering. INTRODUCTION A good provision of daylight is considered to be highly desirable in terms of reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Moreover, a good distribution of natural lighting in office buildings may create a more pleasant working environment and improve the productivity and well being of the occupants [1,2]. Daylight however can cause visual discomfort by inducing glare and