PHOTOMETRIC DETECTION CONTRAST OF AIRPORT LIGHTING IN DECREASING VISIBILITY

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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0645116

Entities

People

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

Organizations

  • University of California, Berkeley

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Approach Lights
  • Cameras
  • Contracts
  • Contrast
  • Detection
  • Guidance
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Observation
  • Observers
  • Perception
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.