PROJECT TAKES OFF ….. LITERALLY !!!

By Joe Frannea

 

There is exciting news from the Sustainable Lighting Committee (SLC).  Their project was officially launched on the evening of June 6^th when an aerial photographer was capturing camera footage of the outdoor lights on the University of Arizona Campus here in Tucson.  The photographer was strapped to the doorway of a helicopter, while standing on one of the skids which had been equipped with cameras attached to a gyro-stabilized platform.  Simultaneously, several SLC members made ground trips across the campus with video and digital cameras to document which outdoor lights were actually on.

 

During the summer, these aerial photographs will be stitched together and the result will be a comprehensive map of the outdoor lights on the entire University of Arizona Campus.  Images will then be scanned in various different locations, and by using special GIS software, both the effectiveness of the outdoor lighting and the amount of light pollution can then be analyzed.

 

Finally, students and professors in the Department of Architecture will seek solutions to improve the outdoor lighting while minimizing light pollution.  What a wonderful “laboratory” the University Campus is for this project !!!!!

 

The SLC has been working hard to raise money and support for the kickoff of this two-year project.  Many campus organizations, observatories, community groups, and individuals have made financial contributions so that this project could be successfully launched.  Details about the SLC can be found on their web site:  www.uaslc.org 

 

Submitted by John Polacheck

President of Southern Arizona Section

International Dark sky Association (SA-IDA)

 

SA-IDA web site:  www.sa-ida.org

E-mail address:  jpolach@dakotacom.net 

Telephone:  743-1362  (home/evenings)

7/20/05