We live in a world of high technologies, where every new day is marked by the transition of science and society to a new, more advanced level. Under the influence of new technologies, the urban landscape is also changing.
How has Moscow changed?
Moscow, not just a metropolis, but also the capital of our vast Motherland, has always been an example of a city with an interesting and attractive urban development for tourists. With the development of technologies in the field of electronics, the urban landscape of Moscow began to play with light: the buildings of the city started to acquire illumination. Nowadays significant objects are visible even at night.
However, the development of science is often accompanied by negative consequences for the environment – the problem of light pollution has arisen in Moscow.
Light Pollution - the problem is here
Light pollution is the illumination of the night sky by artificial light sources, the light from which is scattered in the lower layers of the atmosphere, changing the biorhythms of living creatures.
The first study dedicated to light pollution was conducted by the University of Plymouth, UK, when scientists found out that artificial lighting of coastal cities had a direct impact on 75% of the habitats of marine life, changing their biorhythms, which leads to illnesses and death. As for humans, lack of dark nights can disrupt their biological clock, causing depression, obesity, and cancer.
Light Pollution and Moscow: relationships
To assess the extent of light pollution in Moscow, we studied two types of sources: an article by Alexei Burykin, the QPRO founder, and the maps of light pollution, Light Pollution Map and Radiance Light Trends.
Mr Burykin notes that the issue of light pollution in Moscow today is mostly about how to ensure a comfortable standard of living in the city for those who permanently live and work in the metropolis. The author mentions that Moscow residents tend to complain about excessive lighting and a large number of light sources that are directed upwards, turning the sky over Moscow into a "light dome".
The work with light pollution maps also confirmes the need to take action: the area where our school is located is one of the places with the highest level of light pollution.
What would be realistic to change in Moscow today?
- to use only those decorations of the city that work at certain times of the day. Most buildings and signs are illuminated even at night, when the effect they produce is of little interest to residents and tourists. Consequently, a large amount of energy is wasted. It is important to work on tracking the most active time for Muscovites and city guests to visit Moscow and adapt the lighting.
- to create "cyber-trees". This tool of the urban landscape is a kind of artificial tree, which is equipped with solar panels. During the day, such trees would become some kind of "reservoirs" for the accumulation of solar energy, which in the evening city services would use for lighting. For instance, Singapore has a similar experience – "Gardens by the Bay".
- to inform people about the existing problem and the consequences that it can provoke for humans and the environment. Within the framework of the school, we assume this would be possible through the organization of the “Week of Ecology”, as well as the integration of the topic of environmental protection in the federal project “Conversations About The Important”.
