Analysis of Light Pollution Measurement, Visualization, and Interpretation Methods

The light pollution problem has reached a global scale, affecting human life, wildlife, plant life, and the planet as a whole. Its adverse effects, which grow from year to year, have a negative influence on the ecology, astronomy, and human psychophysical health. These circumstances highlight the need of applying an interdisciplinary approach to address the problem through increasing the public awareness and the revising, updating, and implementation of legislative acts on limiting light pollution. The article reviews contemporary light pollution measurement methods, including ground-based instrumental techniques (such as SQM and TESS photometers, and the use of wide-angle cameras) and remote sensing technologies (utilizing satellites like DMSP/OLS, VIIRS, Luojia 1-01, and UAVs). Special consideration is given to the promising method of measurements using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with platform-mounted optical radiation receivers and light pollution measurement devices, as well as instruments for terrain photography, subsequently used to generate orthophotomaps (georeferenced aerial imagery). The article considers various measurement units used to quantify and visualize light pollution, and also analyzes methods for mapping the spatial distribution of night sky brightness to track changes in the problem status with time. Correct and clear presentation of light pollution data enhances their accessibility for non-specialists, thereby raising public awareness. Consistent development of a unified, comprehensive, and substantiated system comprising preparation of measurement methodology, application of measurement methods and instruments, modeling of light pollution parameters, and accurate representation and visualization of measurement results for further discussion and practical implementation is a key step toward minimizing the existing adverse effects and enabling the control of light pollution propagation.