2023 2023-01-0618
Validation of the Arnold Render for Creation of Physically Correct Lighting Models
Vega, H., Suway, J.
SAE Technical Paper
- Visibility and lighting
Human performance and injury
Visibility and conspicuity
Our engineers determine whether something important was visible and conspicuous during a critical moment.
Nighttime visibility analysis is the firm’s deepest specialty and the subject of much of our published research: camera calibration for luminance estimation, quantifying retroreflective materials from digital imagery, equivalent-contrast depiction of night scenes, and the validation of physically-based render engines against photometric ground truth.
The same analysis supports premise liability work, where the question is usually whether a hazard was open and obvious under the illumination present.
Scope
What this covers
Roadway subjects
- Stopped or disabled vehicles
- Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycles
- Construction equipment and work zones
- Roadway furniture and delineation
- Retroreflective materials and reflectors
Premise subjects
- Stairs and stairways
- Parking stops and wheel stops
- Walkways and vertical discontinuities in sidewalks
- Platforms and uncovered holes
Measurement
- Scene luminance mapping from calibrated imagery
- Target and background contrast
- Illuminance and lighting system performance
- Coefficient of retroreflection by entrance and observation angle
Peer-reviewed research
Published work behind this practice area
Authored by our engineers and peer-reviewed by external experts.
2022 2022-01-0802
A More Robust Method for Digital Video Camera Calibration for Luminance Estimation
Suway, J., Suway, S.
SAE Technical Paper
- Visibility and lighting
2021 2021-01-0853
Systematic Degradation of Retroreflective Materials for Testing and Research
Dinakar, S., Suway, J., Muttart, J., et al.
SAE Technical Paper
- Visibility and lighting
- Testing and instrumentation
2020 2020-01-0567
Simulation of Retroreflective Materials in a Physically Based Rendering (PBR) Engine
Cornetto, A., Suway, J.
SAE Technical Paper
- Visibility and lighting
2020 2020-01-0570
Quantifying Retroreflective Materials Using Digital Imagery
Suway, J., Cornetto, A.
SAE Technical Paper
- Visibility and lighting
Who does this work
Engineers on this practice area
Jeffrey Suway
PE, ACTAR
Visibility and conspicuity, human factors, and accident reconstruction
- Night visibility and conspicuity
- Lighting issues
- Human factors
- Accident reconstruction
27 publications
Henry V. Vega
PE, ACTAR
Accident reconstruction and audio analysis
- Accident reconstruction, commercial and passenger vehicles
- Audio analysis and speed determination
- Photogrammetry, digital mapping, and video analysis
- UAS scene capture and 3D simulation
6 publications
Request a case review
Send us the incident location, the date, and what is in dispute. We'll discuss what analysis is possible with the evidence that exists, and what it would take to get.