Accession Number:

AD0645116

Title:

PHOTOMETRIC DETECTION CONTRAST OF AIRPORT LIGHTING IN DECREASING VISIBILITY

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

CALIFORNIA UNIV BERKELEY INST OF TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Finch, D. M.
• Horonjeff, R.
• Paula, H. G.

Report Date:

1966-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

27.0

Abstract:

A photometric method is described for determining the visibility of airport runway lights under various conditions of visual range and background brightness. The method is based on measurement of a defined quantity, Cd, called photometer detection contrast, and depends on the correlation of this quantity with subjective visibility. Use of the photometric method is illustrated by tests conducted in the FAA Fog Chamber. Values of Cd were calculated from luminance scans of runway lights in daytime and nighttime visual ranges of 1600, 1200, and 800 ft. Maximum visibility distances for the lights were then determined by assuming a trial value of .06 as the minimum usable Cd for subjective visibility under the various fog conditions. An automatic scanner mechanism used with a telephotometer for the efficient acquisition of the luminance data is also described.

Descriptors:

• *MARKER LIGHTS
• *AIRPORTS
• VISIBILITY
• PHOTOMETERS
• RUNWAYS
• FOG
• DETECTION
• LIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Subject Categories:

• Terminal Flight Facilities

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE