NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
An Illumination Modeling System for Human Factors AnalysesSeeing is critical to human performance. Lighting is critical for seeing. Therefore, lighting is critical to human performance. This is common sense, and here on earth, it is easily taken for granted. However, on orbit, because the sun will rise or set every 45 minutes on average, humans working in space must cope with extremely dynamic lighting conditions. Contrast conditions of harsh shadowing and glare is also severe. The prediction of lighting conditions for critical operations is essential. Crew training can factor lighting into the lesson plans when necessary. Mission planners can determine whether low-light video cameras are required or whether additional luminaires need to be flown. The optimization of the quantity and quality of light is needed because of the effects on crew safety, on electrical power and on equipment maintainability. To address all of these issues, an illumination modeling system has been developed by the Graphics Research and Analyses Facility (GRAF) and Lighting Environment Test Facility (LETF) in the Space Human Factors Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center. The system uses physically based ray tracing software (Radiance) developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, a human factors oriented geometric modeling system (PLAID) and an extensive database of humans and environments. Material reflectivity properties of major surfaces and critical surfaces are measured using a gonio-reflectometer. Luminaires (lights) are measured for beam spread distribution, color and intensity. Video camera performances are measured for color and light sensitivity. 3D geometric models of humans and the environment are combined with the material and light models to form a system capable of predicting lighting conditions and visibility conditions in space.
Document ID
20030004254
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Huynh, Thong (Lockheed Martin Corp. United States)
Maida, James C. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Bond, Robert L.
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Meeting Information
Meeting: CAES 99: Computer-Aided Ergonomics and Safety Meeting
Location: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Start Date: May 19, 1999
End Date: May 21, 1999
Sponsors: Louisville Univ., International Ergonomics Association
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NRA-95-OLMSA-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available