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Reviews
By: Laurie Rutenberg, LC - Specification Representative - Philips/Canlyte
I was pleased to be invited to the “Light and Health” presentation that was sponsored by the Scarborough Professional Engineers of Ontario, Scarborough Chapter on Thursday, October 28, 2010. I had read the bio of the presenter which along with my involvement in the lighting industry prompted my interest in attending meeting. Uthayan has an extensive background in electrical engineering, with a focus on various aspects of lighting design. His latest travel and education experience led him to Sweden where he obtained his MSc in Lighting.
The presentation started with a review of current practices and concerns in exterior lighting. Uthayan talked about the MLO for North America and its use in today’s exterior lighting design, along with a comparison and discussion on MLOs’ in practice in other parts of the world. He then brought forward the importance of quality lighting and its effect on our health. He reviewed the makeup of our eyes and visual pathways, including the visual and non-visual receptors and the effect they have on our body rhythms and health. Uthayan’s one hour presentation included some of the latest research and he was very knowledgeable on his subject matter. The one hour presentation was followed by a short question period, and Uthayan continued to show his understanding and knowledge on the topic of lighting and health. This presentation would appeal to those with a technical background in the subject matter but would also be interesting and understood by those with little or no experience. I look forward to attending another of Uthayan’s presentation and a PEO meeting.
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By: Vijay Sanchela
It was very exciting and interesting session of " light and health". It is new era of awakening that light can affect to the health of human, especially that blue light of high luminance can lead to a cancer. This awareness must share with each human being. Also Sky glow is waste of energy, it shall be stopped as much as possible to save the energy.
I really gained a lot in this session
Thanks for the whole team who organised the event
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| When | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
| Where | Malvern Library - 30 Sewells Rd. Scarborough, ON, M1B 3G5 Major Intersection - Neilson and Sewells Road Public transit: Bus 133 - Neilson (Click for route info) |
| Map |  |
| Registration | lightandhealth@peoscarborough.ca First come first served. Priority will be given to Scarborough Chapter members, then other PEO members, guests and friends. |
| Cost | Sponsored by Scarborough Chapter |
Light refreshments and snacks will be served. |
Light and Health
By – Uthayan Thurairajah, MSc, MIES, MIMSA, MPLDA, P.Eng.,
The lighting design process is of sufficient complexity that a
logical and systematic approach is needed for selecting lighting luminaire,
luminaire mounting heights, configurations, and luminaire spacing. Special
attention must be given to light and health issues with emphasis on solving the
problems of glare, sky glow, and light trespassing as well as analyze the
illuminance and luminance calculations methods.
A comprehensive investigation of the policies and practices of various
authorities throughout the world regarding the issue of light and health as
well as scientific evidences and case studies will be taken for the
presentation.
After the finding of a novel non-visual photoreceptor
melanopsin, all the work done by various authorities around the world regarding
the biological threshold values of the light based on the photopic vision
become redundant. Therefore, Uthayan is proposing a new method to calculate the
future of lighting design.
The lighting calculation case studies were completed by Uthayan both in
Canada and Sweden provides a complete picture for the lighting system
performance and how to mitigate light trespass problem and health based on
current standards and practices. As you know, Human vision is a complex system
and lot of things learns to be adapted to the lighting design practice. The new
discovery of non-visual photoreceptor melanopsin is going to play major role in
the future lighting design and the necessary to adopt the biological analysis
as part of the lighting design requirement must be established.
BIO OF THE PRESENTER
Uthayan Thurairajah, is a Professional Engineer with over 12
years of experience in the Electrical Engineering field, including 6 years as a
Project Engineer with MMM Group Limited and other consultants on numerous multi
disciplinary roadway lighting and traffic signal projects for Ministry of
Transportation and various Towns, Municipalities and Regions.
Uthayan has extensive experience in the design of numerous projects, including
but not limited to the electrical design of temporary and permanent high mast
and conventional full and partial illumination, underpass illumination,
pedestrian tunnel illumination, parking lot illumination, park illumination,
transit station illumination, embedded work on structures, interconnect traffic
signal design, temporary and permanent traffic signal systems, traffic
detection systems, traffic counting stations and truck inspection stations. He
also has experience in several contract administrations (CA) and the Quality
Verification Engineer (QVE) services for the temporary and permanent traffic
control signals and lighting.
He is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Member of the
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the province of
British Columbia (APEGBC), Member of the Association of Professional Engineers
and Geoscientists of the province of Alberta (APEGA), Member of illumination
engineering society of North America (IESNA), Associate Member of International
Municipal Signal Association (IMSA), Member of Professional Lighting Design
Association (PLDA), Europe and He was a member of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers (IEE), London, England.
EDUCATION
Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden: MSc in Lighting, 2010, International University: Hon. Doctorate, 2006, Ryerson University: Post Graduate Degree Certificate in Lighting, 2008, University of Windsor: BASc (Hon.) in Electrical Engineering, 1996.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Uthayan hold several professional certification including Certified Construction & Maintenance Electrician (CME), Certified Roadway Lighting Specialist (CRLS), Certified Traffic Signal Inspector (CTSI), Level 2 Certified Traffic Signal Field and Bench Electrician (CTSE), Certified Work Zone Safety Specialist (CWZSS), etc.
AWARDS & HONORS
Uthayan has received numerous awards and honours - notably
- International Illumination Design Award, IESNA, Toronto, 2008
- Advanced Roadway Lighting Award, Halophane, USA, 2003
among many others
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Among the number of publications by Uthayan are
- Light and Health: Integrate Science into the Nocturnal Lighting Design, Master Thesis, The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, 2010
- Holistic Lighting Design in Retail Area, Technical Paper, The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, 2009
- A Systematic Method to Deal With Light Pollution and Safety in Roadway Lighting Design, Thesis, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, 2007
- A Roundabout Lighting Design Based on Human Needs, Research Paper, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, 2007
BOOKS
In addtion to technical papers, Uthayan has contributed numerous poems for the Tamil Comunity of Canada in Tamil books.
