Lighting Design Approaches for River-Crossing Bridges

Lighting design plays a key role in the design of river-crossing bridges, making them more attractive and decorative at night. Well-designed lighting for bridges enhances the riverfront scenery and creates a good nighttime image of the city. In this research, we study the development of river-crossing bridges, and analyze bridge architecture and structure in order to develop lighting design approaches for river-crossing bridges. Furthermore, we study the lighting design criteria and concepts that effect bridge elements and analyze bridge lighting design from selected samples. Finally, new approaches for bridge lighting design have been proposed to lighting designers and related offices. Research methodology included a literature review, empirical research by survey, and data classification. Sets of data were then analyzed, respectively. Moreover, research also conducted a pilot study on the correlation of lighting and the architectural elements of bridges. It has been found that there are three main architectural elements that are involved in lighting: the bridge superstructure, the bridge deck and the bridge pier. Based on this classification, the samplings of river-crossing bridges in Thailand can be grouped into four categories according to their structural types: beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges and cable-stayed bridges. The bridge decks can categorize into four groups and the bridge piers can be categorized into two groups. The data were analyzed in terms of visual perceptions. The approaches were drawn from those studies to suggest different patterns of decorative lighting for rivercrossing bridges. The approaches of river-crossing bridge lighting design can be classified into three types: articulation of contour line, shape, and form. Furthermore, the design criteria that has to be considered, which includes street lighting, the illuminance and luminance of bridges, luminance ratio of bridges and its background, and also lighting pollution. Keywords: lighting design, river-crossing