Light Pollution: A Spatial Analysis, SUNY Oneonta

Abstract

Light pollution is a growing environmental problem which is often overlooked but has many adverse effects. The lighting systems on SUNY Oneonta’s campus present problems for the community such as limiting astronomical observations, altering ecosystem boundaries, and changing species behavior. Measurements of light pollution are obtained using a Unihedron Sky Quality Meter (SQM). The SQM measures darkness of the night sky in magnitudes per square arc second on a scale of 8 (most light pollution) to 23 (least light pollution). Survey sites were determined using stratified sampling from campus green spaces, student walkways, and parking lots. College camp is used as a control to compare the results of survey sites. To ensure accuracy and consistency of data, measurements are taken subsequent to the moon setting below the horizon and only on clear nights with little to no cloud coverage. As research progresses most parking lots and walkways are falling between 8 and 14 magnitudes, while green spaces range from 14 to 23. After finishing a survey the data is averaged with prior survey results and then uploaded to ARCMAP GIS layered with visual and spatial data for its corresponding location. The finished product serves as a base layer for future sustainability projects such as ecosystem monitoring, animal behavior and astronomical research.