Spatial Cognition in the Development of Low-luminance Lighting Designs for Emergency Outdoor Evacuations: Seawall Area around Kesennuma Bay

Abstract

A lighting design was implemented around the seawall in Kesennuma City, which took into account the surrounding illuminance and the sense of continuity between the sea and the city. The road surface illuminance and the luminance distribution of the entire field of view were measured from the inside of the seawall toward a hill, and the visibility of landscape elements related to evacuation was evaluated. In addition, a survey was conducted after setting the lighting environment at a low illuminance level, and a lighting method considering the balance of landscape elements in the field of view at the time of a natural disaster was examined. The results highlight the importance of creating light that matches the terrain; emphasizing slopes and stairs, reflecting the surface of the water, and aiding people in recognising the evacuation route, while suppressing the luminance of the entire field of view.