Dmitrii Ingi

The work discussed in this article aims to present and reflect upon different levels of participatory design methods applied in indoor and outdoor lighting research projects. Papers selected through a systematic literature review covering the period from 2019 to 2024 were categorized by the level of participation and corresponding research stage. The four defined stages include: locating and defining issues or problems, collecting research data, interpreting research data, and reporting research findings. The theoretical framework suggested by Kaulio (1998) was adapted to categorize the studies. The framework distinguishes three levels of participant involvement: research for (no direct participant involvement), research with (active collaboration), and research by (participant-led collaboration). Results indicate that participatory design methods are most frequently employed during the data collection stage, whereas the initial and final stages of research typically remain researcher-led. This suggests that collaboration is valued but primarily concentrated in the middle phases of research. Greater integration of participatory methods in early and late stages could improve communication of research goals and outcomes to broader audiences. These findings provide a foundation/motivation for integrating participatory methods more holistically in lighting research, strengthening user participation and context-relevant proposals.

Thoughtfully designed outdoor lighting plays a significant role in supporting reassurance after dark. This study aims to explore the use of the public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) methodology to examine the relationship between reassurance and outdoor road lighting, focusing on participants’ everyday experiences. By employing PPGIS, which has seldom been used in urban lighting research, we investigate the associations between reported reassurance and actual lighting conditions, including the presence of lighting features and the requirements for various road lighting classes. Additionally, the study explores correlations between reassurance and perceived lighting parameters, such as overall quality of road lighting and brightness. Our findings confirm that the presence of lighting itself can positively contribute to reassurance and that unlit areas are perceived as less safe in comparison with areas with any lighting (i.e. P3 and P4 lighting classes). We also establish a positive correlation between reassurance and perceived lighting parameters, with distinct differences in these parameters observed between safe and unsafe places, where higher ratings are associated with areas reported as safe. Overall, the PPGIS methodology demonstrates considerable potential for further development and application in outdoor lighting studies, providing valuable insights for urban lighting design.