In recent years, the complexity of the evaluation metrics of roadway lighting has continually increased. In order to measure the effectiveness of a roadway lighting system in situ, a mobile measurement system has been developed to provide evaluations of illuminance, luminance, spectral content, glare, human visibility performance, and vehicle condition. This system, the Roadway Lighting Mobile Measurement System (RLMMS), has been developed to be transportable to anywhere in the world and mounted on any vehicle.

The RLMMS consists of five illuminance meters: four measure the centerline and wheel path illuminance of the vehicle and the fifth measures the illuminance at the eye of the driver. The system also uses two cameras: the first a calibrated luminance camera and the second a color camera for scene evaluation. The RLMMS is able to tie into the internal vehicle network to obtain speed and distance measurements. Additional tools, such as a spectroradiometer and an eye tracker, have also been incorporated into the system. Finally, as a method of evaluating human response, the RLMMS includes buttons that allow users to place response markers in the data stream.

The repeatability and reproducibility of the system was evaluated, and comparisons were made to the traditional handheld method of measuring illuminance. Results indicate that the system’s measurement of illuminance may be considered acceptable. The entire system has been programmed in LabView and allows for a variety of configurations of data collection. The system has been utilized in several research projects, including some in Anchorage, Alaska; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Diego, California.