ALPS – the next generation of light pollution monitoring

We are very pleased to inform that dr Sylwester Kołomański from the Institute of Astronomy won the TRACTT competition at the Technology Transfer Centre of the University of Wrocław.

Dr Kołomański is a coauthor of the ALPS project – modular architecture of a monitoring station for light pollution monitoring.

The project focuses on development of research infrastructure to monitor the quality of the night sky. ALPS (Allsky Light Pollution Survey) stations utilise “all-sky” cameras and photometers to measure the brightness of the sky and assess the level of light pollution.

An innovative feature of the project the development of a modular architecture for the measuring station. With this approach the system will be easier to construct, maintain and modernise, and, at the same time, more resistant to adverse environmental conditions. The modular construction will also make it easier to expand the stations’ functionalities and tailor them to the needs of different users.

The significance of this type of research increases along with the awareness of light pollution consequences. Excessive artificial light emission affects not only the ability to carry out astronomical observations, but also the functioning of ecosystems, animal behaviour, and human well-being.

Potential users of the solution include research institutions, local authorities, environmental organisations, managers of protected areas, dark sky parks, and companies specialising in environmental monitoring. The development of the project could contribute to the establishment of a modern light pollution monitoring network both in Poland and beyond its borders.

Photo: private collection. From the left: dr Sylwester Kołomański, mgr Przemysław Mikołajczyk, inż. Adam Markiewicz, and mgr Krzysztof Kotysz. Source: UWr